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Land degradation (LD) is a significant environmental issue that needs to be spatially mapped in different areas. This research provides a framework to prioritize the geo-environmental and anthropogenic factors on LD in a semi-arid region, Qazvin Plain, in Iran based on the maximum entropy model for the first time and also to produce the LD hazard map. The LD inventory map that shows the occurrence points of LD was prepared based on the decreasing trend of net primary productivity (NPP) over 20 years. 120 random points were selected as degraded sites where NPP showed a decreasing trend. Several environmental and anthropogenic factors including temperature, rainfall, land use, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), vegetation soil salinity index (VSSI), visible and shortwave infrared drought index (VSDI), electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) of groundwater, groundwater table, annual depletion of groundwater resources, slope, aspect, and altitude were considered as predictive factors of LD and their relative contributions were determined using the maximum entropy model. According to the findings, 49.74% of the region was in the class of low degradation. Also, 22.57%, 17.87%, and 9.82% of the plain were related to the moderate, high, and very high degradation classes, respectively. The model specified altitude as the most significant variable influencing LD followed by land use, slope, and VSSI. The least important variable affecting LD in the study area was the aspect. The results of modeling LD also showed that the areas most sensitive to LD were frequently rangelands which are mostly found on steep slopes and highlands. Based on the UAC value, the model illustrated a very good efficiency with a value of 0.8. According to the results, the maximum entropy model successfully mapped the LD hazard in the Qazvin plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of crowdsourcing in a pedagogically supported form to partner with learners in developing novel content is emerging as a viable approach for engaging students in higher‐order learning at scale. However, how students behave in this form of crowdsourcing, referred to as learnersourcing, is still insufficiently explored. Objectives: To contribute to filling this gap, this study explores how students engage with learnersourcing tasks across a range of course and assessment designs. Methods: We conducted an exploratory study on trace data of 1279 students across three courses, originating from the use of a learnersourcing environment under different assessment designs. We employed a new methodology from the learning analytics (LA) field that aims to represent students' behaviour through two theoretically‐derived latent constructs: learning tactics and the learning strategies built upon them. Results: The study's results demonstrate students use different tactics and strategies, highlight the association of learnersourcing contexts with the identified learning tactics and strategies, indicate a significant association between the strategies and performance and contribute to the employed method's generalisability by applying it to a new context. Implications: This study provides an example of how learning analytics methods can be employed towards the development of effective learnersourcing systems and, more broadly, technological educational solutions that support learner‐centred and data‐driven learning at scale. Findings should inform best practices for integrating learnersourcing activities into course design and shed light on the relevance of tactics and strategies to support teachers in making informed pedagogical decisions. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Engaging students in learnersourcing activities is on the riseLearning tactics and strategies have emerged as a viable method for interpreting student behaviour What this paper adds: Identifying common tactics and strategies students use in learnersourcing activitiesBroadening the use of the learning tactics and strategies method by applying it in a new context Implications for practice and/or policy: Findings inform best practices for integrating learnersourcing activities into course designMaking the tactics and strategies available to instructors can support teachers in making informed pedagogical decisions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Established data revealed a relationship between obesity and increasing the risk of mortality and morbidity of chronic diseases. There are conflicting data regarding the association between adherence of dietary approach to stop hypertension (DASH) and obesity. Therefore, this study aims to investigate this relationship among a large sample of Iranian adults. Design/methodology/approach: This cross-sectional study was performed by 10,693 individuals; 6750 individuals related to Yazd Health Study living in the urban area and 3943 individuals related to Shahedieh cohort study living in the suburb area. Dietary intake was evaluated by using a validated food frequency questionnaire. In all participants, anthropometric indices including body mass index were measured. The DASH score was considered using gender-specific quintiles of DASH items. To evaluate the relationship of DASH diet and obesity, multivariate logistic regression analysis was used. Findings: By adjusting confounders, participants in highest quintiles of DASH diet were compared to the lowest have lower odds of obesity in suburb area (odds ratio [OR]: 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.63, 0.96), in urban (OR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.99) and in whole population of both studies (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.90). Besides, more compliance of women to this diet in urban (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.48, 0.85) and population of both studies (OR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.62, 0.96) were associated with reduced odds of central obesity. Research limitations/implications: Considering this study limitations, the following can be mentioned: in this cross-sectional study, the causal relationship between DASH diet and obesity could not be assessed. Consequently, further prospective studies are required in this area. Second, although a valid food frequency questionnaire was used, but there was a measurement error and an error in the classification of people participating in the study. Moreover, we cannot reject the possibility of residual confounding bias because unknown or unmeasured confounders may exist that affected our results. Finally, our participants with odds of obesity might have been advised to reduce their fat intake, which led them to alter their dietary habits. However, such possibility cannot be resolved in a cross-sectional study. Originality/value: DASH dietary pattern could decrease odds of obesity in both urban and suburb area and central obesity in urban area only. Further prospective studies are needed for causal conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land subsidence has caused severe environmental hazards in most plains of Iran due to unbalanced extraction between groundwater and rainfall and the geodetic factors. In this regard, three basins of Kohpaye Segzi, Isfahan Borkhar, and Najafabad in Isfahan province were selected to study the areas with land subsidence vulnerability. Changes in aquifer water volume influenced by geodetic factors and meteorological drought were studied. The maps of the Standardized Water Level Index (SWI) and isodeep were provided in ArcGIS 10.7 software using the statistical data of piezometric wells (2002-2018). The time series analysis of 6, 12, 18, and 24-month were performed by DIP software for September as the driest month of the year. the time series with the highest correlation was zoned to show the number of SPI changes. In the last step, the weight of all indices including groundwater loss, meteorological drought, slope, and altitude was equated to evaluate land subsidence vulnerability. Land subsidence vulnerability map was prepared by overlaying the fuzzy maps of indices with strategic points. The relationship between meteorological drought and groundwater level; and correlation analysis of these two parameters with the Pearson statistical method showed a positive correlation only in 18-months time series. The results also showed that 4202 km2of the region has located in high to very high drop class, and the groundwater table has decreased 9.05 m from 2002 to 2018. In general, with a negative trend of precipitation, a positive trend was observed in the standard water level index, which increases the effective stress and was the main reason for land subsidence. According to the vulnerability map, 49 and 12.5 percent of the study area were categorized into high and very high classes of landslide vulnerability, respectively. The results showed that the probability of land subsidence will increase in the next few years because of reduction in precipitation due to climate fluctuation, slope effects, altitude, over-harvesting of groundwater potential in all parts of the basin, especially in the northern areas, and increasing density and loading especially in recent years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peer assessment has been recognised as a sustainable and scalable assessment method that promotes higher‐order learning and provides students with fast and detailed feedback on their work. Despite these benefits, some common concerns and criticisms are associated with the use of peer assessments (eg, scarcity of high‐quality feedback from peer student‐assessors and lack of accuracy in assigning a grade to the assessee) that raise questions about their trustworthiness. Consequently, many instructors and educational institutions have been anxious about incorporating peer assessment into their teaching. This paper aims to contribute to the growing literature on how AI and learning analytics may be incorporated to address some of the common concerns associated with peer assessment systems, which in turn can increase their trustworthiness and adoption. In particular, we present and evaluate our AI‐assisted and analytical approaches that aim to (1) offer guidelines and assistance to student‐assessors during individual reviews to provide better feedback, (2) integrate probabilistic and text analysis inference models to improve the accuracy of the assigned grades, (3) develop feedback on reviews strategies that enable peer assessors to review the work of each other, and (4) employ a spot‐checking mechanism to assist instructors in optimally overseeing the peer assessment process. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Engaging students in peer assessment has been demonstrated to have various benefits. However, there are some common concerns associated with employing peer assessment that raise questions about their trustworthiness as an assessment item.What this paper adds Methods and processes on how AI and learning analytics may be incorporated to address some of the common concerns associated with peer assessment systems, which in turn, can increase their trustworthiness and adoption.Implications for practice Presentation of a systematic approach for development, deployment and evaluation of AI and analytics approaches in peer assessment systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) is one of the main receptors implicated in the pathogenesis of the cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to assess the association between CD36 rs1761667 polymorphism and cardiometabolic risk factors including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, HDL-C, LDL-C, blood pressure and fasting blood glucose (FBG). PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, web of science, and Google Scholar were searched up to December 2021. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were conducted to explore sources of heterogeneity. Eighteen eligible studies (6317 participants) were included in the study. In the overall analysis, a significant association was found between rs1761667 polymorphism of CD36 and TG in allelic (p < 0.001), recessive (p = 0.001) and homozygous (p = 0.006) models. A relationship between this polymorphism and HDL-C and FBG level was observed in the recessive genetic model. In the subgroup analysis, the A allele was associated with impaired lipid profiles (TC, LDL-C and HDL-C) in the Asian population. The influences of health status, design of the study, confounders, and other sources of heterogeneity should be considered when interpreting present findings. Cohort studies with large sample size and in different ethnicities are needed to confirm the relationship between rs1761667 SNP and cardiometabolic risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AI-powered learning technologies are increasingly being used to automate and scaffold learning activities (e.g., personalised reminders for completing tasks, automated real-time feedback for improving writing, or recommendations for when and what to study). While the prevailing view is that these technologies generally have a positive effect on student learning, their impact on students' agency and ability to self-regulate their learning is under-explored. Do students learn from the regular, detailed and personalised feedback provided by AI systems, and will they continue to exhibit similar behaviour in the absence of assistance? Or do they instead continue to rely on AI assistance without learning from it? To contribute to filling this research gap, we conducted a randomised controlled experiment that explored the impact of AI assistance on student agency in the context of peer feedback. With 1625 students across 10 courses, an experiment was conducted using peer review. During the initial four-week period, students were guided by AI features that utilised techniques such as rule-based suggestion detection, semantic similarity, and comparison with previous comments made by the reviewer to enhance their submissions if the feedback provided was deemed insufficiently detailed or general in nature. Over the following four weeks, students were divided into four different groups: control (AI) received prompts, (NR) received no prompts, (SR) received self-monitoring checklists in place of AI prompts, and (SAI) had access to both AI prompts and self-monitoring checklists. Results of the experiment suggest that students tended to rely on rather than learn from AI assistance. If AI assistance was removed, self-regulated strategies could help fill the gap but were not as effective as AI assistance. Results also showed that hybrid human-AI approaches that complement AI assistance with self-regulated strategies (SAI) were not more effective than AI assistance on its own. We conclude by discussing the broader benefits, challenges and implications of relying on AI assistance in relation to student agency in a world where we learn, live and work with AI. • The use of AI in Edtech to scaffold and personalise learning is on the rise. • However, the impact of AI-powered Edtech on student agency is underexplored. • This paper investigates AI's impact on student agency via a study in peer feedback. • Results indicate a student tendency to rely on, rather than learn from, AI. • Self-regulated approaches can help replace AI assistance but are not as effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes is one of the major public health concerns. Prediabetes can increase the risk of developing some non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Given the increasing trend of prediabetes, it is critical to control it and prevent its complications. Curcumin is a major bioactive component of turmeric. Zinc is an antioxidant nutrient. The present trial aimed to evaluate the effect of curcumin and zinc co-supplementation along with a loss-weight diet on serum lipid profiles in overweight or obese patients with prediabetes. Methods: Eighty-four participants were randomized to four groups (curcumin (500 mg/day), zinc (30 mg/day), "curcumin and zinc", and placebo) for 90 days. Serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TG), non-HDL, HDL/LDL ratio, weight, BMI, waist circumstance (WC), hip circumstance (HC), physical activity (PA) and dietary intake were determined pre and post-intervention. This study will be conducted at Yazd Diabetes Research Clinic, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. Results: Totally, 82 participants were included in the final analysis. After the adjusted PA effect, changes in serum TG (adjusted p = 0.001), LDL (adjusted p = 0.035), non-HDL (adjusted p = 0.003), HDL/LDL ratio (adjusted p = 0.002), and HDL (adjusted p < 0.0001) revealed a significant difference between the groups. However, the changes in weight (adjusted p = 0.004) and BMI (adjusted p = 0.006) were significant but the changes in dietary intake, PA, WC, and HC were non-significant (adjusted p ≥ 0.05). Despite that there was a significant difference for post-intervention HDL levels (adjusted p = 0.016), other lipid profiles showed no significant difference (adjusted p ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: The beneficial effects of "curcumin and zinc" co-supplementation was reported for the changes of some lipid profiles (TG, LDL, HDL, non-HDL, and HDL to LDL ratio), BMI, and weight with no positive effects on TC, dietary intake, PA, WC, and HC. Therefore, it may play a potential role in the prevention of macro and microvascular complications. Trial registration The project is a registered clinical trial (Registration number: IRCT20190902044671N1, Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT), registered October 11, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to assess effect of consuming anthocyanins (ACNs; pure ACNs or products containing ACNs) on liver enzymes levels including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma‐glutamyl transferase (GGT). Although no significant impact was detected on the liver enzymes, a significant reduction was observed on ALT (WMD = −4.932 U/L, 95% CI = −9.848 to −0.015, p =.049) and AST (WMD = −3.464 U/L, 95% CI = −6.034 to −0.894, p =.008) in the studies that examined them as primary outcomes. A significant decrease was found on AST among the healthy subjects (WMD = −4.325 U/L, 95% CI = −8.516 to −0.134, p =.043) and in the studies that used products containing ACNs as intervention (WMD = −2.201 U/L, 95% CI = −4.275 to −0.127, p =.037). Although no significant relation was detected between ACNs dosage and the liver enzymes, significant associations were found between the duration of trial with ALT (ALT: slope: 0.09, 95% CI = 0.040 to 0.139, p =.0003) and AST (slope: 0.076, 95% CI = 0.037 to 0.115, p =.0001). In conclusion, although ACNs had no significant effect on the liver enzymes, a significant decrease was discovered on ALT and AST in the studies that evaluated them as primary outcomes. A significant reduction was observed in AST in the healthy individuals and in the studies used products containing ACNs as intervention. Significant relations were also found between the duration of trial with ALT and AST. Further studies are required to confirm these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthy lifestyles are important during adolescence due to their impact on health-related problems and life expectancy during adulthood. Despite the emphasis on the importance of healthy habits, the high prevalence of breakfast skipping, physical inactivity, and insufficient sleep is reported among adolescents. This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep quality (SQ) and nutritional habits among adolescents of Yazd. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 569 students aged 12–16 years of six high schools in Yazd, Iran, by a multistage random cluster sampling method. Anthropometric data were measured by precise instruments. Nutritional and PA habits were collected by asking some questions. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire was used to assess SQ. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 22). The breakfast skipping and semi-skipping (57.2%), overweight or obesity (37.8%), and insufficient sleep duration (38.9%) were common. Poor SQ was reported in 63.7% of the students, but a significant relationship was not illustrated between SQ with breakfast frequency, weight, breakfast time, and midmorning snack intake. A significant relationship was found between poor SQ with a later bedtime (p < 0.0001), mild PA (p = 0.016), late dinner (p < 0.004), and famine (p = 0.02). This study highlighted the associations between SQ with dinnertime, bedtime, and PA. Also, a significant association was not reported between the SQ with breakfast frequency, breakfast time, snack consumption, and weight. This study suggested paying more attention to healthy sleep habits during adolescence, apart from guidance for diet and PA during adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We know mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are in the higher postpartum risk of spare weight gain and type 2 diabetes. Excessive postpartum weight gains also lead to low maternal vitamin D levels. So, we decided to evaluate the result of a single mega dose of injectable vitamin D in postpartum weight gain and other anthropometric measurements in the new cases of GDM. Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial study with the follow-up time of 3 months. Totally 45 people were randomly allocated into control and intervention groups. The intervention group got only one IM injection of 300,000 IU of vitamin D whereas controls did not. The body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference and waist to hip ratio were quantitated. Results: 24 mothers with an average age of 30.7±6.2 in the intervention group and 21 mothers with an average age of 29.5±4.0 in the control group took part in the study. Waist circumference and hip circumference reduced in the intervention group in compared to the control group (P value= 0.006), significantly. Changes of BMI were not significant after intervention (P value= 0.9). Conclusions: Only one single 300,000 IU dose of vitamin D decreased waist and hip circumference in postpartum of GDM women, but it did not find any significant effect on BMI. Further prospective studies with longer follow up period are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to determine the relationship between dietary patterns derived by principal component analysis (PCA) in association with obesity from a large group of Iranian adults in the urban and suburb areas. A cross‐sectional study was conducted on 10,693 Iranian adults. The data were collected from two cohort studies: Shahedieh city annexed to Yazd area as well as Yazd Health Study (YaHS)‐TAMYZ (Yazd Nutrition Survey in Persian) in urban area. Dietary intakes were assessed using a validated semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The PCA was applied to identify the dietary patterns. Multiple logistic regressions were run to assess the relationship between dietary patterns and obesity. In Shahedieh cohort study, three major dietary patterns were identified traditional, unhealthy, and prudent pattern. Prudent pattern was associated with lower odds of obesity (OR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.53, 0.88). Higher adherence to the unhealthy (OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.50) and traditional (OR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.72) patterns was related to greater odds of obesity. Moreover, we identified traditional and unhealthy dietary patterns in YaHS study. Higher adherence to the unhealthy dietary pattern was associated with greater odds of obesity (OR: 1.21 95% CI: 1.02, 1.44). Greater adherence to unhealthy dietary patterns was associated with higher odds of obesity in participants. Greater adherence to traditional and prudent dietary patterns increased and decreased the obesity odds, respectively. Further prospective studies are needed to find out the causal relationship between the variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since in most mapping models geometric mean of different criteria are used to determine the desertification intensity, one of the most important issues in desertification studies is understanding the similar areas, which require similar management after determining the desertification intensity map. Two similar classes of desertification intensity may require different management due to differences in the criteria that affect its desertification severity. Therefore, after determining the geomorphological facies as the working units in Sistan plain, we used hierarchical cluster analysis to identify the homogeneous environmental management units (HEMUs) based on indices of MEDALUS model. According to the MEDALUS model, the studied area was divided into two categories namely medium and high desertification classes. Working units (geomorphological facies) are classified into five clusters according to HEMUs analysis based on climate, soil, vegetation, and wind erosion criteria. The first cluster (C11) include six facies with moderate and severe desertification; in all of these units the main effective factor was wind erosion, so they need the same management decisions controlling wind erosion. Two working units (1 and 4) with the same desertification severity were placed in two different clusters due to the main factors affecting each other. The results of the Mann-Whitney test showed that the value of the test statistics was 79. Also, the value of Asymp.Sig was obtained to be 0.018, which is less than 0.025 (two-tailed test), and it can be concluded that the classification of work units in the two models, clustering and desertification, is not equal (P<0.05). So It seems that using cluster analysis to identify the same units, which need the same management decision after preparing the desertification intensity, is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the linkage between agricultural drought and meteorological drought, using normalization different vegetation index (NDVI) and land surface temperature (LST) for the whole of Iran in four periods of 16 days of late March, April, May, and June between 2000 and 2017. LST and NDVI were obtained from the production of MODIS MOD13A2 and MOD11A2. In the next step, the basic time synchronization of LST and NDVI was performed by the mean of two 8-day LST images and their conversion to 16-day LST for each year. The vegetation health index (VHI) was calculated from the combination of temperature condition index (TCI) and vegetation condition index (VCI). Then, Iran's map of standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index (SPEI) was calculated on a 12-month timescale for 68 meteorological stations with the inverse distance weighted (IDW) method. By using ArcGIS 10.5, the Pearson correlation coefficient and the slope of linear regression were calculated between 12-month SPEI and VHI for all four periods in different climates: hyper dry, dry, semi-dry, semi-humid, and humid. Results showed that the correlation increased when the temperature increased. This increase occurred in dry and hyper-dry climates. As the temperature rose, the slope of the linear regression for 12-month standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index (SPEI) on vegetation health index (VHI) increased. The highest and lowest average effects of the slope were observed in dry and climatic class, respectively. With increasing temperature, the need for water in plants will increase. Hence, there is a direct relation or a positive correlation between temperature and correlation strength and slope effect. Therefore, plants more seriously will face drought stress during the drought period, and this drought stress has a positive correlation with drought intensity. From this study, it was concluded that the highest correlation and the highest slope effect between the 12-month SPEI and VHI happened in the dry climatic class in June. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution can have detrimental effects on human health as well as the environment. Particulate Matter (PM), as a global issue, is a type of air pollution that consists of small particles suspended in the air. Therefore, it is crucial to estimate and monitor levels of PM in the air in order to protect public health and the environment. This study proposed a novel hybrid method to apply the capability of two various deep learning models, namely, the encoder-decoder convolutional neural network and the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model for PM10 prediction. The first model was utilized as a data argumentation method to enhance dataset diversity, and the LSTM model employed meteorological parameters and spatiotemporal factors to estimate the PM10 levels. The proposed technique achieved performance resulting in a coefficient of determination value of 0.88 and a mean absolute error value of 7.24. The results confirm that the developed hybrid method as an effective tool of PM prediction can be used to inform decision-making about policies and actions to reduce PM levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Serum phospholipid omega-3 fatty acid levels in patients suffering from both type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) are lower than in their healthy counterparts. Omega-3 supplementation can be effective in controlling glycemic indices in T2DM, and in improving lipid profiles in T2DM and NAFLD as well. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on glycemic control and lipid profile in patients with T2DM and NAFLD. METHODS: In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, 60 patients with T2DM and NAFLD were enrolled. The participants were randomly divided into two groups. The omega-3 group (OG) received capsules containing omega-3 fatty acids (2g/d), and the placebo group (PG) received placebo capsules (2g/d) during a12 week period. Dietary intake was assessed with 24-hour dietary recalls. Fasting blood samples and anthropometric measurements were collected at the baseline and after 12 weeks. Serum levels of glycemic indices (fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c)) and lipid profile (levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c)) were measured. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients completed the study. Paired t-test revealed no significant differences in the baseline measurements between the two groups. At the end of the study compared with the PG, the OG had a significant reduction in serum TG levels. However, there was no significant effect of omega-3 supplementation on the other parameters: the mean FBG or HbA1c concentration, neither on TC, LDL-c and HDL-c levels. CONCLUSION: Two grams per day of omega-3 supplementation after 12 weeks led to a significant reduction in serum TG levels in patients with T2DM and NAFLD. However, no significant effects were observed on FBG, HbA1c, TC, LDL-c, and HDL-c levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: The impressive growth in the incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) as well as the risk of its complications implies the need to focus on finding new ways to control such conditions. The present study was conducted to examine the effect of L-arginine supplementation on the lipid profile, glycemic status, and insulin resistance in patients with the MetS. METHODS: In this randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 60 patients with MetS were randomly divided into a placebo group (PG) and an arginine group (AG). The AG members received 5 g/d of L-arginine. The triglyceride (TG) levels, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) values, total cholesterol (TC), hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index(QUICKI), ß-cell function (β%), and insulin sensitivity were measured at baseline and after 3 months of intervention. RESULTS: The results showed that the change in the AG in the TG levels (–20.92±22.2 mg/dl) was significantly greater than in the PG (–3.57±15.6 mg/dl; P = 0.001).The change in the ratio of cholesterol/HDL-c (–0.20±0.37) in the AG was also significantly greater than in the PG (0.12±0.69; P = 0.03). There was a significantly greater decrease (P = 0.001) in the FBG in the AG (–11.32±9.36 mg/dl) compared with the FBG in the PG (–1.57±7.96 mg/dl). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that the daily supplementation of 5 g/d L-arginine for 12 weeks in patients with MetS significantly decreased the levels of FBG and TG, and the ratio of cholesterol/HDL-c. Thus, L-arginine can be useful in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities (including obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia), which can be used to identify at-risk populations for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The achievement of a simple approach for diagnosing MetS without needing biochemical tests is so valuable. The present study aimed to predict MetS using non-invasive features based on a successful random forest learning algorithm. Also, to deal with the problem of data imbalance that naturally exists in this type of data, the effect of two different data balancing approaches, including the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE) and Random Splitting data balancing (SplitBal), on model performance is investigated. Results: The most important determinant for MetS prediction was waist circumference. Applying a random forest learning algorithm to imbalanced data, the trained models reach 86.9% and 79.4% accuracies and 37.1% and 38.2% sensitivities in men and women, respectively. However, by applying the SplitBal data balancing technique, the best results were obtained, and despite that the accuracy of the trained models decreased by 7.8% and 11.3%, but their sensitivity improved significantly to 82.3% and 73.7% in men and women, respectively. Conclusions: The random forest learning method, along with data balancing techniques, especially SplitBal, could create MetS prediction models with promising results that can be applied as a useful prognostic tool in health screening programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind erosion plays an essential role in the production of sediment for dust storms and occurs when strong and continuous wind interacts with dry, fine-grained and loose soil. Identifying dust production centers is the first step in prioritizing different areas for executive operations to reduce dust and determine its control methods. Jazmurian area is one of the areas where the intensity and frequency of dust events have increased in recent years and caused a lot of damage. The purpose of this research is to determine the areas prone to dust production and sensitive to wind erosion using the ILSWE model in the Jazmurian wetland basin. This model is based on five effective factors of climate erosivity, soil erodibility, soil crust, vegetation cover, and surface roughness. Maps of temperature, precipitation, wind speed, percentage of sand, silt, clay, calcium carbonate, EVI and land use were used to calculate these factors. After calculating each factor, ILSWE index was calculated by multiplying them. Finally, sensitive areas were identified by classifying this index in Arc GIS software. The ILSWE classification map showed that 46.72% of the studied area is in very low sensitivity class, 16.56% in low class, 13.67% in medium class, 12.41% in severe class and 10.64% in class Very severe sensitive to wind erosion. Severe and very severe sensitivity class was considered as the center of dust generation. The results showed that the southern (wetland area and its surroundings), west, southwest, east and southeast areas of the Jazmurian wetland basin are prone to dust production and wind erosion. These areas are mostly located in areas without vegetation (barren areas), salt marshes and sand dunes; which shows the importance of vegetation in reducing producing dust. On the other hand, the topography, the presence of wind and the characteristics of the soil in these areas help to produce dust. In general, the results of this research showed that the ILSWE model has a suitable efficiency for determining areas prone to wind erosion and dust production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hypertension is a common component of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Some studies showed that L-arginine reduced the blood pressure (BP). Therefore this study was designed to evaluate the effect of L-arginine supplementation on BP in MetS. Materials and Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, 60 patients with MetS were randomly divided into two groups: the L-arginine-supplemented group (AG), who received 5 gr of L-arginine daily and placebo group (PG). Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP) were measured before and after the intervention and compared. Results: At the end of the study in the AG significant reductions were observed in the SBP, DBP and MAP (P-value:0.001). The comparison of changes in variables between the AG and PG indicated that in the AG, patients had a significantly greater decrease in the SBP (-11.25±10.93 vs. -2.67±6.15 mmHg: P-value:0.001), DBP(-5.71±7.16 vs. -1.25±7.02 mmHg: p-value: 0.02) and MAP (-7.55±5.61 vs.-1.72±5.16 mmHg, P-value: 0.001). The PP decreased in both groups but a significant decrease compared with baseline in the AG was observed (-5.53±13.83 vs. -1.42±9.21 mmHg: P-value: 0.19). Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that 5 gr/d L-arginine supplementation for 12 weeks in MetS resulted in significant decrease in the SBP, DBP and MAP but had no significant effect on the PP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoporosis (OP) is one of the most prevalent metabolic bone diseases at higher ages, especially in postmenopausal women. Objective: To determine the effect of consumption of garlic tablet on proteins oxidation biomarkers in postmenopausal osteoporotic women. Methods: The present study was a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial that included 42 postmenopausal women in Yazd during 2014-2015. Osteoporotic women were randomly assigned into two groups: the garlic group (GG) and the placebo group (PG). Participants in GG took two garlic tablets daily for 1 month and the participants in PG took placebo tablets in the same manner. After 30 days, the plasma level of carbonyl groups (PCO), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) were assessed by spectrophotometric assays. Also, Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was measured according to the procedure of Thiobarbituric Acid (TBA). Data were analyzed by SPSS version 18, using paired-samples ttest, independent-samples t-test, Wilcoxon, and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: This study showed that garlic tablets had decreased PCO plasma levels (47.37±5.98 vs. 19.62±3.40 nM, p≤0.001, before and after the study, respectively), AOPPs (738.95±151.86 vs. 585.12±209.99 µM, p≤0.008, before and after the study, respectively), and increased TAC (11.34±10.80 vs. 47.93±17.80, p≤0.001, before and after the study, respectively). The parameters in placebo groups showed no significant differences before and after the study, respectively. The levels of MDA before taking the drug in comparison to before Garlic group was also reduced (1.30±1.04 vs. 0.92±0.81 µM, p=0.01, before and after the study, respectively). Conclusion: The role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of many diseases such as osteoporosis has been demonstrated. The present study showed that garlic consumption can reduce the oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Right to health is one of the fundamental human rights in international human right system. This right possessed a stable position in various treaties and international conventions. Based on this right, everyone has the right to reach the highest standard of physical and mental health which includes all medical services, public sanitation, enough food, suitable accommodation, healthy atmosphere of work and healthy environment. Governments are obliged to promote the right to health whether in citizens or non-citizens. Effective restriction on tobacco products requires national, local and international cooperation. In international level, the universal convention of World Health Organization has the regulations related to control of tobacco products business. Accordingly, Iran has joined to the convention thus its articles are binding inside the country. In addition to this regulation, producing and distributing tobacco products in Iran have followed by some principals and rules including: I) Producing of every type of tobacco product gained monopoly by government, II) The necessity of inserting logo and health warning messages on pocket, III) All of tobacco products must be packed in pockets with serial number and the particular label of Iran tobacco products, IV) Limitation of selling tobacco products to under aged people (under 18). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land surface temperature (LST) is one of the key parameters in the physics of land surface processes from local to global scales, and it is one of the indicators of environmental quality. Evaluation of the surface temperature distribution and its relation to existing land use types are very important to the investigation of the urban microclimate. In arid and semi-arid regions, understanding the role of land use changes in the formation of urban heat islands is necessary for urban planning to control or reduce surface temperature. The internal factors and environmental conditions of Yazd city have important roles in the formation of special thermal conditions in Iran. In this paper, we used the temperature-emissivity separation (TES) algorithm for LST retrieving from the TIRS (Thermal Infrared Sensor) data of the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM). The root mean square error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination (R²) were used for validation of retrieved LST values. The RMSE of 0.9 and 0.87 °C and R2 of 0.98 and 0.99 were obtained for the 1998 and 2009 images, respectively. Land use types for the city of Yazd were identified and relationships between land use types, land surface temperature and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were analyzed. The Kappa coefficient and overall accuracy were calculated for accuracy assessment of land use classification. The Kappa coefficient values are 0.96 and 0.95 and the overall accuracy values are 0.97 and 0.95 for the 1998 and 2009 classified images, respectively. The results showed an increase of 1.45°C in the average surface temperature. The results of this study showed that optical and thermal remote sensing methodologies can be used to research urban environmental parameters. Finally, it was found that special thermal conditions in Yazd were formed by land use changes. Increasing the area of asphalt roads, residential, commercial and industrial land use types and decreasing the area of the parks, green spaces and fallow lands in Yazd caused a rise in surface temperature during the 11-year period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The current study was conducted to compare the effect of 150,000 and 300,000 IU of vitamin D on the healing status of diabetic foot ulcer among the patients with diabetes. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was carried out on 47 patients with diabetic foot ulcer and vitamin deficiency during four weeks follow-up. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups; group G150 was administered 150000 IU of vitamin D and group G300 was administered 300000 IU of vitamin D. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, ulcer area, fasting blood sugar (FBS), c-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells (WBC) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured in both groups before and after intervention. Results: Serum vitamin D level in both groups was significantly increased compared to the baseline (P<0.01). The mean of serum vitamin D changes were 12.6±5.0 and 18.4±6.4 ng/ml (P=0.001) in G150 and in G300, respectively. The ulcer area was significantly reduced in both groups compared to the baseline (P<0.01).WBC, ESR, FBS and CRP were significantly declined compared to the baseline in both groups. However, the mean changes of serum FBS and CRP levels were found to be significantly different between groups. Discussion: The findings showed administration of 150,000 and 300,000 IU of vitamin D improved the ulcer and vitamin D status and reduced ESR, CRP, WBC and FBS in the patients with diabetic foot ulcer. In addition, the 300,000 IU of vitamin D was significantly more effective than 150,000 IU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease. Microalgae could be consumed as a functional food, as a new approach to improve metabolic disorders and fat accumulation in NAFLD patients. The present study aimed to compare Chlorella Vulgaris and Spirulina supplementation effect on lipid profile and liver function among NAFLD patients. This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 66 patients with NAFLD whose disease was confirmed by ultrasonography. The patients were randomly allocated into three 22-member groups, who received daily 1g of Chlorella vulgaris (CG) or Spirulina tablets (SG) and the non-interventional group (NG) did not receive any medication for eight weeks. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical parameters have been measured including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), Triglyceride (TG), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) at baseline and after 8 weeks. Comparison within groups demonstrated that only weight significantly decreased in the intervention groups. BMI and waist circumference of changes were assessed similar to weight. Lipid profiles mean of change did not have any significant difference between the intervention groups and NG. No significant changes in TC, LDL-c, and HDL-c were observed among the three groups. Mean of changes of ALT was significant between the NG and both intervention groups. It was decreased to 7.17±16.9 mg/dl in the intervention groups, and increased to 2.73±5.41 mg/dl in the NG. The results of this research indicated that Chlorella vulgaris supplementation could decrease weight and improve lipid profile and liver function in patients with NAFLD more than Spirulina supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Genome wide association studies (GWAS) showed that risk alleles of ADIPOQ Gene are related to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) risk factors. No study has been performed to evaluate the interaction between these polymorphisms and dietary patterns (DP) on CVDs Risk factors. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study conducted on 383 adults (20 to 70 years old) living in Yazd, Iran. Individuals selected from the participants of the Yazd Health Study (YaHS) which is a prospective cohort conducted since 2014. In the present study, rotated principle component analysis (PCA) was used to identify the DPs. The polymerase chain reactionrestricted fragment length polymorphism (PCRRFLP) method was used to identify rs1501299 polymorphism. General linear model (GLM) and regression models have been used to investigate the interactions between the rs151299 and DPs. Results: Three DPs were extracted: Healthy DP (HDP), western DP (WDP) and traditional DP (TDP). TT genotype compared to GG had greater odds for hyperglycemia after controlling confounders (OR=2.37; 95%CI: 1.02-5.51, P= 0.045). Significant interactions were observed between WDP and rs1501299 on FBG (P = 0.035), diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.049), odds of LDL > 130 (P= 0.050) and central obesity (P= 0.040). Following this DP increased all these items in TT genotype whereas had no significant effect on GG and GT genotypes. Conclusion: The findings indicate that there is significant association between TT genotype of rs1501299 and hyperglycemia and significant interactions between alleles of this polymorphism and major DPs on high LDL, central obesity, FBG and diastolic blood pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Designing the effective and early interventions can prevent progression of prediabetes to diabetes. Few studies have shown the effect of flaxseed on glycemic control. This study aimed to assess the effect of flaxseed powder on insulin resistance (IR) indices and blood pressure in prediabetic individuals. Materials and Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, 99 prediabetic individuals were randomly divided into three groups: two groups received 40 g (FG40) and 20 g (FG20) flaxseed powder daily for 12 weeks and the third group was the control (CG). Before and after the intervention, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, fasting serum glucose (FSG), insulin, homeostasis model assessment IR index (HOMA-IR), beta-cell function, and insulin sensitivity were measured. Results: FSG significantly declined overall in all groups compared to the baseline (P = 0.002 in CG and FG20 groups and P = 0.001 in FG40). In contrast, mean of the changes in FSG was not significantly different between groups. Insulin concentration did not change significantly within and between the investigated groups. Although HOMA-IR reduced in FG20 (P = 0.033), the mean of changes was not significant between the three groups. Mean of beta-cell function increased in CG and FG40 groups compared to the baseline (P = 0.044 and P = 0.018, respectively), but mean of its changes did not show any difference between the three groups. The mean of changes in IR indices was not significant between the three groups. FG40 group had significantly lowered systolic blood pressure after the intervention (P = 0.005). Conclusion: Daily intake of flaxseed powder lowered blood pressure in prediabetes but did not improve glycemic and IR indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Fasting is an Islamic practice, which causes various metabolic changes in fasting individuals. Numerous studies have examined different aspects of fasting, but its effect on individuals with different characteristics such as obesity has remained unknown. The impact of fasting on adipose tissue hormones such as leptin and adiponectin is still controversial. In this study, we aimed to examine the effect of Islamic fasting on glucose and lipid profiles, as well as plasma adiponectin and leptin concentrations in fasting obese and normal-weight individuals. Methods: Obese and normal-weight individuals from Yazd, Iran, who fasted during Ramadan were divided into two groups (n=24). Blood samples were taken from all the participants after 10-12 fasting hours two days before and one day after Ramadan to assess glucose and lipid profiles and plasma adiponectin and leptin concentrations. The individuals who were not able to fast for at least 21 days due to inflammatory or infectious diseases and those who received oral medications or supplements during Ramadan were excluded from the study. Results: Variations in weight, body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL-c were significant in the obese group (P<0.05). There were no significant changes in leptin and adiponectin levels in obese cases. Variables such as weight, BMI, and triglycerides and leptin levels decreased significantly, while adiponectin level did not change significantly in normal-weight cases. Conclusion: Islamic fasting can prevent cardiovascular diseases in obese and normal-weight individuals through reducing weight, BMI, and some blood lipids, elevating HDL-c level, and changing the concentration of some adipokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let L p ( R + ) denote the space of Lebesgue integrable functions on R + with the standard norm ∥ x ∥ p = ( ∫ 0 ∞ | x ( t ) | p d t ) 1 p . First, we define a new measure of noncompactness on the spaces L p ( R + ) (1 ≤ p < ∞). In addition, we study the existence of entire solutions for a class of nonlinear functional integral equations of convolution type using Darbo’s fixed point theorem, which is associated with the new measure of noncompactness. We provide some examples to demonstrate that our results are applicable whereas the previous results are not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Inflammation is a common complication in patients treated with hemodialysis and increasing in inflammatory factors such as C-reactive Protein (CRP) is associated with increased cardiovascular disease and mortality in these patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of oral L- carnitine supplementation on serum CRP concentration and fasting blood sugar (FBS) in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial on 50 patients (30 males and 20 females) undergoing hemodialysis in the age range of 21-84 years from hemodialysis units of Yazd hospitals. Participants randomly divided into two groups, the Carnitine group (CaG) consumed daily oral syrup of Lcarnitine containing 1000 mg of Carnitine for three months and the control group (CoG) did not use Carnitine. Serum levels of CRP and FBS were measured at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS version 16.0. Results: the mean difference in CRP concentration in CaG and CoG were, 1.95 ±9.4 and 0.6±10.8 (µg/l), respectively (P-value=0.7) and the mean of FBS at the baseline and after 12 weeks in the CaG were 118.7±51.4 mg/dl and 110.1±48.2 mg/dl, respectively (Pvalue= 0.3) and in the CoG were 142.8±88.7 mg/dl and 131.8±68.9 mg/dl (P-value=0.26). Conclusion: The oral administration of daily 1000 mg of Lcarnitine for three months doesn't effect on serum CRP and FBS concentrations in patients undergoing hemodialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Diabetes is a common endocrine disorder caused by deficiency of insulin secretion or insulin resistant. nowadays, in addition to trying to find a safe way to control diabetes, find the low side effect way is important. This study was designed to find the effect of Urtica dioica extract on glycemic control and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: A parallel randomized clinical trial was conducted with participating 60 patients with type 2 diabetes who met inclusion criteria were recruited. Patients were randomly assigned to receive 100mg/kg/day extract of Urtica dioica group (UG) and the other group which received placebo (PG) over an 8 weeks period. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) concentration and insulin resistance indices (insulin concentration, insulin resistance (IR), insulin sensitivity (S%) and β-cell function (β%)) were measured at baseline and end of the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0 and P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean difference of FBS in UG and PG were 20.16±52.6 mg/dl and -0.7±45.29 mg/dl (P-value=0.14) and the mean concentration of insulin in UG and PG were 2.5mU/L and 0.2mU/L (P-value=0.003), respectively, that showed a significant increase in insulin concentration in UG compared to PG and the mean IR in UG and PG were 0.3 and 0.1 (P-value=0.01) that showed a significant decrease in IR in UG compared to PG. The mean difference of β% in UG and PG were - 24.16±35.07% and 1.22±18.14% (P-value=0.003), and the mean difference of S% in UG and PG were -54.72±69.3% and 1.1±74.01% (P-value=0.009), respectively that showed increase in insulin concentration, β% and S% and decrease in IR in UG compared to PG. Conclusions: In the present study we demonstrated that consumption of 100mg/kg/day extract of U.dioica for 8 weeks did not have significant effect on FBS and it has significant effect on insulin resistance indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: By decreasing oxidative stress and whereby decreasing insulin resistance, it may be possible to decrease complications of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Green tea and sour tea contain phytochemicals which have anti-oxidative function. The aim of this study is to compare the effect of sour and green tea consumption on insulin resistance and oxidative stress in DM. Methods: This study is a randomized clinical trial in which 100 type 2 diabetes patients were randomly assigned into sour tea group (ST) and green tea group (GT). The patients were instructed to drink 150ml sour tea and green tea infusion, respectively, three times a day for 4 weeks. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), fructosamine, lipid profiles, fasting blood insulin (FBI), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR); beta cell function (b%), insulin sensitivity (S%) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were monitored. Results: HDL-c significantly increased in both groups. The median of FBI in GT showed significant decrease (8.5 to 6.6 µIU/mL) unlike the ST which showed significant increase (8.2 to 16.3 µIU/mL). The median of HOMA-IR after the intervention in GT showed lower levels than the ST (1.1 vs. 1.6, P=0.004). The median of b% only in ST showed significant increase from 38.2% at the baseline to 47.7% after the intervention. The mean of S% only in ST showed significant decrease after the intervention. Conclusion: This study shows that the use of 150 ml infusion of green tea or sour tea, three times a day for four weeks, has positive effect on insulin resistance and certain lipoproteins in type 2 DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Sexual dysfunction is considered as an important health problems. Chronic diseases such as diabetes can have negative effect on sexual function. This study aims to determine the level of sexual dysfunction in male patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 in Yazd Diabetics Research Center. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study involved 69 male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Yazd Diabetes Research Center- 2014. The Questionnaire consisted of two parts: demographic characteristics of patients and the IIEF questionnaire (the International Index of sexual function). Data analysis was performed by using SPSS software version 21, and by using descriptive statistics, mean, standard deviation and statistical tests of Fisher' exact and T-test. Results: The mean of age, height and weight of participants were 51.44 year, 171.14 cm, 77.55 kg, respectively. Through 15 items surveyed, lowest mean is related to the question attempted to intercourse (1.20±0.40) and the highest average related to the question marriage satisfaction (3.50±0.50). Conclusion: According to the results, most of the participants were in trouble in making erection and frequency of intercourse. Informing the patient as the first and most effective ways of prevention and treatment is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Patients with metabolic syndrome are prone to cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Regarding the importance of nutritional factors in management of metabolic syndrome, this study was designed to evaluate the effects of dark chocolate consumption on serum lipid profile in patients with metabolic syndrome. Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 114 patients with metabolic syndrome, aged 30 to 60 years, without heart, renal and hepatic diseases were recruited. The eligible patients were randomly allocated to receive either dark chocolate (76% purity), 20 or 40 grams daily for two months. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TG) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were measured with enzymatic methods before and after intervention. A low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level was calculated by the Friedewald formula. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 and ANOVA test P<0.05 was considered significant. Dietary intake was measured with NUT4 software at the beginning and the end of the study. Results: There were no significant changes in dietary intakes of patients during the intervention in three groups. No significant differences were seen in mean concentration of lipid profile before and after intervention in groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Consumption of 20-40g/day dark chocolate with 76% purity for 2 months doesn't change the lipid profile of patients with metabolic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is conflicting evidence regarding the relationship between iron stores and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The present study aimed to investigate the association between body iron indices and some cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: In a case-control study conducted in the south of Shiraz, Iran, we determined ferritin, iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), metabolic risk factors, C reactive protein (CRP), and anthropometric measurements in 100 men aged 45 years and higher with newly diagnosed CVD and 100 adjusted controls without evidence for CVD. Results: The mean of low density lipoprotein (LDL c), CRP, and ferritin concentrations were significantly higher in cases than controls, and high density lipoprotein (HDL c) was significantly lower in cases than controls. Pearson correlation coefficient between CRP and the other risk factors in case group showed that only ferritin, serum iron, waist circumference, and LDL c significantly correlated with CRP (r = 0.32 with P < 0.001, r = 0.29 with P < 0.05, r = 0.41 with P < 0.01, and r = 0.36 with P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: This study indicated an association between a positive balance of body iron and CVD. Hence, caution should be exercised in administration of iron supplements to patients with CVD and in consumption of food rich in iron by them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Controversy exists as to whether eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or both are responsible for the efficacy of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in depression. We conducted a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-arm, parallel-group trial, comparing the efficacy of EPA versus DHA as adjuvants to maintenance medication treatments for mild-to-moderate depression. Eighty-one mild-to-moderately depressed outpatients were randomly assigned to receive either 1g/d of EPA or DHA or placebo (coconut oil) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) final score in the modified intention-to-treat population, which comprised of all randomized patients with at least 1 post-randomization observation (n=62; 61.3% female; mean age 35.1±1.2 years). Allocated treatments were well tolerated. Although there was no significant difference between groups at baseline, patients in the EPA group showed a significantly lower mean HDRS score at study endpoint compared with those in the DHA (p<0.001) or placebo (p=0.002) groups. Furthermore, response to treatment (defined as a ≥50% decrease from the baseline HDRS score) was only observed in 6 patients receiving EPA, while no one in any of DHA or placebo groups responded to treatment. Overall, these data suggest greater efficacy of EPA compared to DHA or placebo as an adjunctive treatment in mild-to-moderate depression. However, further, randomized controlled trials are needed to support these findings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: The use of herbal medicines including different types of tea is among the different strategies for preventing and controlling the side-effects of diabetes. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of sour tea and green tea on mildly hypertensive patients with diabetes. Methods: The present study was a randomized clinical trial in which 100 mildly hypertensive patients with diabetes were randomly assigned into sour tea group (ST) and green tea group (GT). They were instructed to drink sour tea and green tea infusion, respectively, three times a day 2 hr after each meal for 4 weeks. The participants' blood pressure was measured at days 1, 15, and at the end of study. Results: The systolic pressure of both groups statistically decreased at the end of the study; it decreased from 123.1 ± 15.5 to 116.8 ± 16.3 mmHg in the ST and from 119.4 ± 15.1 to 114.8 ± 15.9 mmHg in the GT. The diastolic pressure of both groups statistically decreased by the end of the study; it decreased from 79.4 ± 11.1 to 74.5 ± 9.3 mmHg in the ST and from 78.9 ± 8.3 to 75.3 ± 7.7 mmHg in the GT. The therapeutic effectiveness of tea drinking by the end of intervention was 43.5% in the ST and 39.6% in the GT compared to the beginning. Conclusions: The present study revealed that mildly hypertensive type 2 diabetic individuals who drink three glasses of green or sour tea daily for 4 weeks show significant decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM-2) is a chronic and progressive metabolic disorder known as a serious threatening condition in the individual and society. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is known as the major cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Contradictory evidences about the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on CVD risk factors, particularly hypertension. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on blood pressure in DM-2 patients. Materials and Methods: This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on patients referred to Yazd Diabetes Research Center. Seventy DM-2 patients were randomly assigned to receive either 2 g/day omega-3 soft gels (OG) or 2 g/day placebo (PG) for 6 weeks. At the beginning and end of the study, blood pressure was measured and compaired Results: Fifty nine percepts of patients in OG and 41% in PG had hypertension. Initially, there was no significant difference in the mean of age, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and duration of diabetes between two groups. At the end of the study, the mean of SBP, DBP and differences between groups were not significant. Conclusion: Consumption of 2 g/day omega-3 supplement for6 weeks has no significant effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in DM-2 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Menopause is one of the important causes of osteoporosis which results from estrogen deficiency. In addition, some clinical and experimental evidence indicates that there is an association between increasing pro-inflammatory cytokine activity and postmenopausal bone loss. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of garlic tablet on pro-inflammatory cytokines in postmenopausal osteoporotic women. Methods: The present study was a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial in Yazd conducted during November 2009 until July 2010. The sample included 44 postmenopausal osteoporotic women who were randomly assigned into two groups: the garlic group (GG) and the placebo group (PG). Participants in GG took two garlic tablets daily for 1 month and the participants in PG took placebo tablets in the same manner. Serum interlukin-1, interlukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were measured using the ELISA method before and after the intervention. Also, 24-hour dietary recall was recorded for estimation of daily intake of some nutrients. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between interlukin-1 and interlukin-6 in the two groups before and after the intervention. The mean of TNF-α did not show any statistically significant difference between the two groups before and after the intervention, but it was significantly reduced by about 47% (from 31.14±50.53 to 19.33±22.19 ng/ml, P-value = 0.05) in GG after the intervention, However, no significant difference was seen in PG. Conclusions: The present study produced some evidence for an immunomodulatory effect of garlic, as well as the modulation of cytokine production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of diabetes and cardiovascular complications of metabolic syndrome. The main objective of this study was to evaluate total antioxidant status by diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-scavenging activity in patients developed metabolic syndrome (MetS). Materials and Methods: Forty-four patients with MetS diagnosed on the basis of adult treatment panel (ATPIII) criteria along with 46 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were studied. A blood sample was taken after a 12-hour fasting period, and blood glucose, lipid profile, and DPPH were determined. Results: A significant decrease (p=0.03) in DPPH-scavenging activity levels in the study group was observed compared to the control group. Among the components of metabolic syndrome, hyperglycaemia, hypertriglycerid\ aemia and hypertension were negatively correlated with DPPH-scavenging activity levels. Conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest the oxidative stress in patients with MetS which further increases the cardiovascular risk and diabetes mellitus in these patients. We posited that studying of the oxidative status is crucial in order to prevent type 2 diabetes development and cardiovascular disease and its complications because it is installed long before the disease actually appears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During pregnancy and lactation outstanding changes occur in mother's vitamin D metabolism. This study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of 300,000 IU vitamin D given intramuscularly on body status in new cases of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial with the follow-up period of 3 months. Totally 45 participants were randomly divided into intervention group (IG) and control group (CG). The IG received an IM injection of 300,000 IU of vitamin D, whereas CG did not. The glycosylated hemoglobin A1C (HBA1C), serum 25-OH-D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), serum calcium and phosphorus were measured. Results: Forty five patients including 24 with the mean age of 30.7±6.2 years in the IG and 21 with the mean age of 29.5±4.0 years in the CG participated in the study. The median concentration of serum 25(OH)D3 in the IG was to 62.10 nmol/l after the intervention, showing an increase of around 158%, compared to before intervention (24.25 nmol/l) whereas the CG showed a decrease of around 4.5%. Of the patients, 79.2% of IG and 81.9% of CG suffered to some degree from vitamin D deficiency. These figures were 4.2% and 71.4% for the IG and CG, respectively after the intervention. For the IG, the PTH was significantly lower and Ca was significantly higher after the intervention. The serum Phosphorus before and after the intervention in each group or between the two groups was not significant. Conclusions: The single 300,000 IM dose of vitamin D is regarded as an effective and safe to promptly improve vitamin D status in GDM. Trial Registration Number: IRCT138902113840N1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional item analyses such as classical test theory (CTT) use exam‐taker responses to assessment items to approximate their difficulty and discrimination. The increased adoption by educational institutions of electronic assessment platforms (EAPs) provides new avenues for assessment analytics by capturing detailed logs of an exam‐taker's journey through their exam. This paper explores how logs created by EAPs can be employed alongside exam‐taker responses and CTT to gain deeper insights into exam items. In particular, we propose an approach for deriving features from exam logs for approximating item difficulty and discrimination based on exam‐taker behaviour during an exam. Items for which difficulty and discrimination differ significantly between CTT analysis and our approach are flagged through outlier detection for independent academic review. We demonstrate our approach by analysing de‐identified exam logs and responses to assessment items of 463 medical students enrolled in a first‐year biomedical sciences course. The analysis shows that the number of times an exam‐taker visits an item before selecting a final response is a strong indicator of an item's difficulty and discrimination. Scrutiny by the course instructor of the seven items identified as outliers suggests our log‐based analysis can provide insights beyond what is captured by traditional item analyses. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Traditional item analysis is based on exam‐taker responses to the items using mathematical and statistical models from classical test theory (CTT). The difficulty and discrimination indices thus calculated can be used to determine the effectiveness of each item and consequently the reliability of the entire exam.What this paper adds Data extracted from exam logs can be used to identify exam‐taker behaviours which complement classical test theory in approximating the difficulty and discrimination of an item and identifying items that may require instructor review.Implications for practice and/or policy Identifying the behaviours of successful exam‐takers may allow us to develop effective exam‐taking strategies and personal recommendations for students.Analysing exam logs may also provide an additional tool for identifying struggling students and items in need of revision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engaging students in the creation of learning resources is an effective way of developing a repository of revision items. However, a selection process is needed to separate high- from low-quality resources as some of the materials created by students can be ineffective, inappropriate or incorrect. In this study, we share our experiences and findings in incorporating three approaches for peer evaluation of student-generated content, using an educational technology called RiPPLE which supports learner sourcing of study materials. All approaches asked students to score peer-developed resources, rate their confidence in that judgment and to provide written feedback or justification of their evaluation to the resource's author. The first approach provided no guidance to scoring. The second supplied a simple instructor-developed rubric for scoring. The third utilised a simple data-informed rubric incorporating criteria derived from thematic analysis of students' comments provided in the first two conditions. The analysis of 8,213 evaluations of student-generated content from 813 students shows that the data-informed rubric produced more rigorous evaluations, higher agreement in scores but lower student confidence in the accuracy of their assessments. The analysis of comments shows that students went beyond the criteria supplied in the rubrics and applied their own understanding of resource quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pomegranate juice (PJ) on the paraoxonase and arylesterase activity of human serum paraoxonase( PON1). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fifty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus consumed 200 ml of PJ daily for a period of 6 weeks. Blood was collected from the patients before and after PJ consumption after 12 h of fasting. Blood sugar, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL-C were measured by enzymatic kit method and autoanalyzer. The concentration of LDL-C was calculated by using Friedwald formula. The malondialdehyde concentration (µmol/L) was determined by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) assay. Paraoxonase and arylesterase activity of PON1 enzyme were measured using paraoxone and phenylacetate as the substrates. RESULTS: The concentration of fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, LDL-C and malondialdehyde significantly (p<0.001) decreased after the intervention. Paraoxonase and arylesterase activity of PON1 significantly (p<0.001) increased after the intervention. However, there were no significant changes in serum triglyceride and HDL-C. There was a significant positive correlation between paraoxonase and arylesterase activity of PON1 and serum HDL-C concentration. A significant negative correlation was detected between paraoxonase and arylesterase activity of PON1 and FBS. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that PJ consumption as an antioxidant may have a contribution in changing fasting blood sugar, lipid profiles, lipoprotein oxidation, and PON1 activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Oxidation and level of plasma lipids are closely implicated in the development of coronary heart disease (CHD). Dietary almond supplementation may participate in beneficial effects on CHD lipid risk factor levels and their susceptibility to oxidative modification. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with almond on serum lipid levels and their relation to lipid oxidation parameters in men with mild hyperlipidemia. Design: Thirty (30) healthy volunteer men (age 45.57 ± 7.14 years and body-mass index 24.29 ± 2.15 kg/m2) with mild hyperlipidemia received 60 g almond daily for 4 weeks. Outcome measures: Overnight fasting blood samples were obtained before and after supplementation. Serum levels of lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins and copper-induced serum lipid oxidation were determined. Lipid oxidation was followed by monitoring of the change of conjugated dienes in diluted serum after addition of Cu2+. A number of quantitative parameters including lag-time, maximal rate of oxidation (V-max), and maximal amount of lipid peroxide products (OD-max) were evaluated. Results: After 4 weeks, almond supplementation significantly decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol (TC), and apolipoprotein B100 (apo-B100). At baseline, there was little correlation between lipid risk factors and lipid oxidation parameters, but a positive correlation was observed between TC and lag-time ( r = 0.6, p = 0.001), negative correlation between TC with V-max and OD-max ( r = −0.65, p < 0.001 and r = −0.61, p = 0.001), and also positive correlation between apo-B100 with V-max and OD-max ( r = 0.48, p = 0.01 and r = 0.54, p = 0.003) after almond supplementation. Conclusions: These results demonstrated that almond supplementation, in addition to lowering effects on serum levels of CHD lipid risk factors, may contribute to a dramatic change in the relation of lipid risk factors and susceptibility of serum lipids to oxidative modification. This may be due to the distribution of different almond phenolic antioxidants in different components of serum including nonlipoprotein molecules such as serum albumin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Coughing is a prevalent symptom of upper respiratory infections (URIs) that cause disturbance in the sleep of children and their parents. There is as yet no reliable treatment to control URIs and their related cough; however, drugs such as dextromethorphan (DM) and diphenhydramine (DPH) are now mainly used in the world. The aim of this study is to compare the effect of honey, DM, and DPH on the nightly cough and sleep quality of children and their parents. Design: This was a clinical trial study in which 139 children aged 24–60 months suffering from coughing due to URIs were selected and assigned randomly to 4 groups. The first group received honey (HG), the second one DM (DMG), the third DPH (DPHG), but the fourth group or control group (CG) was assigned to a supportive treatment. Outcome measures: After approximately a 24-hour intervention, the 4 groups were reexamined and their cough frequency, cough severity, and sleep quality in children and their parents were recorded by using the questionnaire with Likert-type questions. Results: The mean of cough frequency score HG is 4.09 ± 0.72 and 1.93 ± 0.65 before and after the intervention, respectively, while these figures for the CG are 4.11 ± 0.78 and 3.11 ± 0.57, respectively. After the intervention, the difference of the mean score of the variables in all groups became statistically significant. The mean score of all variables in HG has stood significantly higher than those in other groups. There is also a significant relationship between the DMG and CG groups, even though there is no statistically difference between DMG and DPHG groups. Conclusions: The result of the study demonstrated that receiving a 2.5-mL dose of honey before sleep has a more alleviating effect on URIs-induced cough compared with DM and DPH doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress is a serious complication in diabetic patients. Black tea and also sour tea contained some flavonoids with antioxidant properties and may be helpful in prevention of lipid oxidation. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of sour tea and black tea on in-vitro copper induced serum lipids oxidizability in diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this sequential double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial, 60 diabetic patients were divided into case and control group randomly. Patients in case group used sour tea, and control subjects used black tea as the same program for 4 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at the beginning and end of the study for evaluation of serum lipid oxidizability. Lipid oxidation was followed by the formation of conjugated dienes, in diluted serum, after added Cu2+. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in serum lipid oxidation parameters between the case and control groups. CONCLUSION: Our finding revealed that sour tea or black tea consumption does not affect the quantitative parameters of serum lipid oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let w be a word in the free group on the set {x1, ..., xn} and let $\mathcal{V}(w)$ be the variety of groups defined by the law w = 1. Define $\mathcal{V}(w^*)$, to be the class of all groups G in which for all infinite subsets Y1, ..., Yn, there exist yi ∈ Yi such that w(y1, ..., yn) = 1 and define $\mathcal{V}_{\infty}(w)$ (respectively $\mathcal{V}_m(w)$) to be the class of all groups G in which for all infinite subset Y (respectively for all m-element subset Y) there exist n distinct elements y1, ..., yn ∈ Y, such that w(y1, ..., yn) = 1. In this paper we prove that $\mathcal{V}(w^*)=\mathcal{V}(w)\,{\cup}\,\mathcal{F}$ and $\mathcal{V}_{\infty}(w)=\mathcal{V}_m(w)\,{\cup}\,\mathcal{F}$ for some positive integer m, where w is a certain word and $\mathcal{F}$ is the class of finite groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: There is increasing evidence that intake of sour tea ( Hibiscus sabdariffa) has hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects and may benefit patients suffering from metabolic disorders such as diabetes. The objective of the present study was to investigate the hypolipidemic effects of sour tea in patients with diabetes and compare them with those of black tea. Design: In this sequential randomized controlled clinical trial, 60 patients with diabetes were recruited and randomly assigned into two groups: sour tea (ST) and black tea (BT). They were instructed to consume sour tea or black tea two times a day for 1 month. Outcome measures: Fasting blood samples were taken at the beginning and at the end of the study for evaluation of lipids, lipoproteins, and apoproteins. Results: Fifty-three (53) patients concluded the study. In the ST group, mean of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDLc) increased significantly ( p = 0.002) at the end of the study, whereas changes in apolipoprotein-A1, and lipoprotein (a) were not significant. Also, a significant decrease in the mean of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, and Apo-B100 were seen in this group. In the BT group, only HDLc showed significant change ( p = 0.002) at the end of the study and changes in the other measures were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that ST has a significant effect on blood lipid profile in patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land degradation is a global natural hazard that can be controlled by distinguishing susceptible areas. Although new approaches for determining areas prone to land degradation are necessary, spatial modeling of this hazard remains a challenge. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of the weight of evidence (WOE) and evidential belief function (EBF) models for spatial modeling of land degradation in a semi-arid region in Iran. The trend of Net Primary Production (NPP) changes related to 2001-2020, obtained from MOD17A3, was taken into account to specify the inventory of land degradation in the study area. 120 random points were chosen as degraded points in areas with decreasing trend in NPP during 20 years. 70% of the dataset was randomly selected as a training set for the modeling step and 30% of them were selected as the testing set for the validation step. Fifteen geo-environmental factors including temperature, precipitation, slope, aspect, altitude, land use, normalized difference vegetation index, normalized difference salinity index, vegetation soil salinity index, normalized difference moisture index, visible and shortwave infrared drought index, electrical conductivity, and sodium adsorption ratio of groundwater, groundwater table, and annual depletion of groundwater resources were selected as influential factors or independent variables for modeling. The modeling process was done in ArcGIS software after calculating the values of EBF and WOE in excel. And finally, the efficiency of the models was analyzed using the area under the ROC curve. The findings illustrated that EBF with AUC = 0.72 had better performance for spatial modeling of land degradation in the Qazvin plain. Also according to the outputs of both models, north, northeast, northwest, west, southwest, and south of the Qazvin plain were susceptible to LD. The results of this research successfully suggested a new land degradation modeling method that can be used in different areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]