Search

Dust crisis is one of the most important environmental problems caused by climate change and drought during the last three decades in some parts of Iran, especially in its eastern and western borders. The present study is a qualitative semi-structured interview study of 11 managers and employees of public libraries in the Iranian provinces of Ilam, Khuzestan, Kurdistan, and Kermanshah. In the article, we document that public libraries can take major steps to better manage community needs arising from disasters and emergencies. The findings show that public libraries can take on educational, cultural, executive, and informative roles in the pre-crisis stage, executive and informative roles in the during-crisis stage, and executive and documentation roles in the post-crisis stage. Based on the results, a conceptual model is constructed, showing the role of Iranian public libraries in dealing with the dust crisis as a rotational process. In order to improve the role of public libraries in society, it is necessary that library managers and employees take appropriate measures in the three stages of pre-crisis, during-crisis, and post-crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early detection of breast cancer (BC) is extremely important as late diagnosis has been associated with a high rate of mortality. Immunogenic proteins and autoantibodies have been considered as favorable targets for early detection and targeted therapy in cancer. Accordingly, the present study aimed to identify the immunogenic antigens in both early and advanced stages of BC via a serologic proteome analysis (SERPA) approach. Method: This is a case-control study wherein we separated the proteins from BC tissues in the early stages (n = 10) and advanced stages (n = 10) utilizing two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) and then transferred them onto a Polyvinylidene Difluoride (PVDF) membrane. To explore the tumor antigens reacting with antibodies, two-dimensional (2D) blots of tumor tissues in the early and advanced stages were separately probed with the sera from the same patients. Afterwards, we identified antibody-reactive proteins via liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results: Fibrinogen beta chain (FGB), protein deglycase DJ-1(PARK7), and peroxiredoxin-2 (PRDX2) were the highly reactive antigens identified in the earlystage patients. In addition, RuvB-like1 (RUVBL1) and triose phosphate isomerase (TPI) were recognized as the immune reactive proteins in the late-stage patients. Conclusion: The results herein revealed that the immune-proteome pattern of BC patients changes along with tumor progression from primary to advanced stages. Moreover, immunogenic proteins seemed to stimulate the humoral immune system to produce autoantibodies in the initiation phase of BC; these autoantibodies could be employed as complementary factors for early detection of BC. The findings are however preliminary, and further studies with a larger sample size are required for verification and validation of previous findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Radiotherapy is one of the most important therapeutic options used to treat cancers. Radiation effects can be improved using nanoparticles and chemotherapeutic drugs as radiosensitizing agents. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of folic acidconjugated gold nanoparticles (GNP-F) in combination with doxorubicin (DOX) and x-Ray irradiation in colorectal cancer (CRC) cell line (HT-29). Methods: The cell viability assay (WST-1) was performed to study the cytotoxic effects of different concentrations of DOX and GNP-F after 24 and 48 hours treatments. Then, the effects of the GNP-F, X-Ray irradiation, and DOX drug in single and combined treatments were examined after 24 and 48 hours treatment with effective doses. Likewise, the caspase 3 gene expression ratio and the caspase 3 activity were assessed after 48 h treatment. Moreover, the malondialdehyde (MDA) level was determined in treated and untreated cells. Results: When GNP-F (at a concentration of 70 μM) was combined with X-ray irradiation (2 Gy) and DOX drug, induced more cytotoxic effects compared to the control group. The results of cell viability assay showed that GNP-F + X-Ray in combination with a low concentration of DOX (0.25 x IC50) enhanced the cytotoxic effects of cells compared to related single treatments. Caspase 3 gene expression ratio and caspase 3 activity increased in double and triple combination treatments in comparison with the single groups. Moreover, the MDA level increased in triple combination compared to the single treatments. Conclusion: Our findings confirmed the potential anti-cancer effects of the GNP-F and DOX in combination with X-Ray irradiation in CRC cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various investigation has shown the magnitude role of adenosine receptors in cancer development. The A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 G-protein-coupled cell surface Adenosine Receptors (ARs) are found to be upregulated in many types of cancers. The adenosine receptor function has been affected by specific ligands such as agonists and/or antagonists regulated cancer (Neoplasms) cells proliferation via signaling pathways. Adenosine not only is an important intermediate metabolite but also acts as the essential ligand of adenosine receptors in physiological and pathological conditions. Furthermore, many studies have shown that adenosine receptors expression has increased in many types of cancer. In this review, we first describe adenosine's role in physiological condition and in cancer development. We further, discuss the type of adenosine receptors, distribution, expression, and their roles in cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on human life from social, economic, and environmental aspects globally. The educational dimension has also been affected in schools’ regular functioning, with the temporary closure of educational institutions and the disruption of face-to-face classes. Research that focuses on sustainable education during the COVID-19 pandemic is growing. There needs to be new knowledge and innovation to turn these challenging conditions into opportunities to reshape higher education. This study aims to review research in sustainable education during the COVID-19 pandemic, categorise the study, and identify the research trends and gaps. A systematic literature review is used as a methodology to attain the research objective. The results contribute to researchers providing potential topics that need to be further analysed. For practices, this study will help educators identify the opportunities and advance the implementation of sustainable education systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the gain engineering of a semiconductor quantum dots fiber amplifier (SQDFA) is studied. The optical amplification is realized by exciting the PbS quantum dots coated around the tapered single-mode fiber coupler with an evanescent wave. The gain spectra and saturation properties of the SQDFA are obtained via solving the rate and coupled power equations based on the two-level model. Then, the effect of the signal wavelength, pump power and amplifier length on the saturation characteristics is numerically simulated. The obtained results show that the proposed model is in a good agreement with the previous experimental results. Unique characteristics of the SQDFA such as the broadband optical gain and smooth bandwidth are of great interest for dense wavelength-division multiplexing systems. Therefore, the proposed model show promising applications in the future fiber-optic communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bacterial sensors are recommended for medical sciences, pharmaceutical industries, food industries, and environmental monitoring due to low cost, high sensitivity, and appropriate response time. There are some advantages of using bacterial spores instead of bacteria in vegetative forms as spores remain alive without any nutrient for a long time and change to vegetative form when a suitable environment is provided for them. Methods: For biosensor fabrication, it is important to define how the bacterial spores are delivered to the substrate media. The main purpose of this paper is an investigation of transferring bacterial spores on a flexible substrate media using a commercial inkjet printer (HP Deskjet 1510). It should be noted that in the previous researches, the special printers were used to transfer bacteria on rigid films. Results: These printed bacterial spores are used as a colorimetric temperature indicator. The custom-made bio-inks are prepared by bacterial spores along with a gelling agent and pH indicator. Conclusions: Finally, transformation of bacterial spores into vegetative bacteria is occurred by changing of temperature. A color change in the bio-prints is demonstrated because the bacterial transformation and growth change the environmental pH to an acidic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Arctium lappa (burdock), (A. lappa) root has hypoglycemic and antioxidative effects, and has been used for treatment of diabetes in tradition medicine. This study was conducted to evaluate the antidiabetic and hypolipidemic properties of A. lappa root extract on nicotinamidestreptozotocin (NA-STZ)-induced type2 diabetes in mice. Materials and Methods: In this investigation, 70 adult male NMRI mice (30-35g) randomly divided into 7 groups (n=10) as follow: 1- control, 2-type 2 diabetic mice, 3-diabetic mice that received glibenclamide (0.25 mg/kg) as an anti-diabetic drug, 4, 5, 6 and 7- diabetic and normal animals that were pre-treated with 200 and 300 mg/kg A. lappa root extract, respectively, for 28 days. Diabetes has been induced by intraperitoneal injection of NA and STZ. Finally, the blood sample was taken and insulin, glucose, SGOT, SGPT, alkaline phosphatase, leptin and lipid levels was evaluated. Results: Induction of diabetes decreased the level of insulin, leptin and high density lipoprotein (HDL) and increased the level of other lipids, glucose, and hepatic enzymes significantly (p<0.05). Administration of both doses of the extract significantly decreased the level of triglyceride, very low density lipoprotein, glucose and alkaline phosphatase in diabetic mice (p<0.05). Insulin levels increased in animals treated with 200 mg/kg (p<0.05) and HDL and leptin levels increased in animals treated with 300 mg/kg of the extract (p<0.01). Conclusion: The results showed that A. lappa root extract, at specific doses, has an anti-diabetic effect through its hypolipidemic and insulinotropic properties. Hence, this plant extract may be beneficial in the treatment of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dietary polyphenols, such as those found in green tea and red wine, are linked to antitumor activity. They are known to influence many signaling pathways epigenetically within the human body. In this regard, CPUK02 (15-Oxosteviol benzyl ester) is a new ent-kaurenoid derivative of stevioside and exhibits strong anti-cancer activity in vitro and in vivo. Nowadays, the role of epigenetics in cancer has been the subject of intensive study and DNA methylation targeting represents a relevant strategy for cancer treatment. There are no reports regarding the effects of CPUK02 on epigenetic alterations in colorectal cancer cell line. This study was an attempt to compare CPUK02 with 5-AZA as DNMT inhibitor agent and evaluate whether it can induce its anti-cancer effects via altering the level of DNMT3b mRNA, MGMT and SFRP2 methylation pattern in HCT 116 cell line. Methods: To evaluate DNMT3b expression, DNMT3B mRNA levels in HCT116 CRC cell line were quantified by real-time reverse-transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay after 24 hr of incubation time with CPUK02 and 5-AZA. In addition, the methylation patterns of 2 CpG islands in this cell line were examined by methylationspecific PCR methods. Results: CPUK02 surprisingly, decreased the DNMT3b mRNA level. The average expression levels of DNMT3b in HCT116 treated with CPUK02 and 5-AZA relative to the GAPDH expression level in control were 0.16 and 0.5%, respectively. Furthermore, CPUK02 could decrease the methylated allele of MGMT and SFRP2 genes in HCT 116 after 24 hr. Conclusion: In this study, positive correlation was found between mRNA expression of DNMT3b and gene promoter hypermethylation after treatment with CPUK02 and 5-AZA. Our data confirmed that CPUK02 like 5-AZA exhibits demethylating properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advertising word of mouth marketing is one of the most important means of informal communication among consumers about goods, services and organizations that are of interest to researchers. This study, in term of applied purpose and the method of research is a descriptive survey method of field branch. This study's statistical population consists of, all fans of Premier League football in Isfahan province. The method used for sampling in this study was a random sampling. The sample size was estimated at 274 persons. In order to collect data and analyze them using a questionnaire. In this research face validity, was used to check the validity of questionnaire Also, in order to check the reliability of test, using Cronbach's alpha, that it's amount for the total of questionnaire was 0.833. structural equation model was used to test the hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]