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Abstract This study investigates the correlation between brain age and chronological age in healthy individuals using brain MRI images, aiming to identify potential biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. To achieve this, a novel attention-based ResNet method, 3D-Attention-Resent-SVR, is proposed to accurately estimate brain age and distinguish between Cognitively Normal (CN) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) individuals by computing the brain age gap (BAG). Unlike conventional methods, which often rely on single datasets, our approach addresses potential biases by employing four datasets for training and testing. The results, based on a combined dataset from four public sources comprising 3844 data points, demonstrate the model's efficacy with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 2.05 for brain age gap estimation. Moreover, the model's generalizability is showcased by training on three datasets and testing on a separate one, yielding a remarkable MAE of 2.4. Furthermore, leveraging BAG as the sole biomarker, our method achieves an accuracy of 92% and an AUC of 0.87 in Alzheimer's disease detection on the ADNI dataset. These findings underscore the potential of our approach in assisting with early detection and disease monitoring, emphasizing the strong correlation between BAG and AD.

Abstract This study explored the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and total phenol content of aerial parts from 25 accessions of three Achillea species (Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch, Achillea vermicularis Trin., and Achillea tenuifolia Lam.). The plants were collected from various natural habitats across Iran, encompassing regions such as Central, Western, Southern, Northern, Western, and Northwestern parts of the country. Subsequently, they were grown together under field conditions. The study revealed significant variation in essential oil yields among accessions of A. wilhelmsii, ranging from 0.01 to 0.107%, A. vermicularis with a range of 0.075 to 1.5%, and A. tenuifolia showing a variation of 0.1 to 2%. The study utilized Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis, revealing 75, 49, and 75 compounds in the essential oils of A. wilhelmsii, A. tenuifolia, and A. vermicularis, respectively. Major components included camphor, 1,8-cineole, anethole, α-pinene, and phytol in A. wilhelmsii, 1,8-cineole, camphor, levo-carvone, and δ-terpinene in A. vermicularis, and β-cubebene, elixene, β-sesquiphellandrene, 1,8-cineole, camphor, and δ-terpinene in A. tenuifolia. The essential oil compositions of A. wilhelmsii and A. vermicularis were predominantly characterized by oxygenated monoterpenes, whereas that of A. tenuifolia was characterized by sesquiterpenes. Cluster analysis grouped accessions into three clusters, with A. tenuifolia forming a distinct group. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) triplot (62.21% of total variance) confirmed these results and provided insights into compound contributions. Furthermore, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the accessions of three species were assessed over 2 years. A. tenuifolia exhibited the highest levels in both categories, with statistically significant linear regression between antioxidant activity and total phenol content for A. tenuifolia and A. wilhelmsii. These findings emphasize significant phytochemical diversity within Achillea species, positioning them as promising natural sources of antioxidants. Further exploration and selection of specific accessions within each species are crucial for unlocking their medicinal potential and supporting cultivation and conservation efforts.

Abstract COVID-19 is a complex disease that can lead to fatal respiratory failure with extrapulmonary complications, either as a direct result of viral invasion in multiple organs or secondary to oxygen supply shortage. Liver is susceptible to many viral pathogens, and due to its versatile functions in the body, it is of great interest to determine how hepatocytes may interact with SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 patients. Liver injury is a major cause of death, and SARS-CoV-2 is suspected to contribute significantly to hepatopathy. Owing to the lack of knowledge in this field, further research is required to address these ambiguities. Therefore, we aimed to provide a comprehensive insight into host-virus interactions, underlying mechanisms, and associated risk factors by collecting results from epidemiological analyses and relevant laboratory experiments. Backed by an avalanche of recent studies, our findings support that liver injury is a sequela of severe COVID-19, and certain pre-existing liver conditions can also intensify the morbidity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in synergy. Notably, age, sex, lifestyle, dietary habits, coinfection, and particular drug regimens play a decisive role in the final outcome and prognosis as well. Taken together, our goal was to unravel these complexities concerning the development of novel diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic approaches with a focus on prioritizing high-risk groups.

Introduction: This study was carried out with the aim of determining weather parameters and air pollutants affecting seasonal changes of particulate matter of less than 10 microns (PM10) in Yazd city using Random Forest (RF) and extreme gradient boosting (Xgboost) models. Materials and Methods: The required data was obtained from 2018 to 2022. Levene’s test was applied to investigate the significant difference in the variance of PM10 values in 4 different seasons, and Boruta algorithm was used to select the best predictive variables. RF and Xgboost models were trained using two-thirds of the input data and were tested using the remaining data set. Their performance was evaluated based on R2, Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and Nash–Sutcliffe Model Efficiency Coefficient (NSE). Results: The RF showed a higher performance in predicting PM10 in all the study seasons (R2 > 0.85; RMSE < 22). The contribution of dust concentration and relative humidity in spring PM10 changes was more than other variables. For summer, wind direction and ozone were identified as the most important variables affecting PM10 concentration. In the autumn and winter, air pollutants and dust concentration had the greatest effect on PM10, respectively. Conclusion: RF model could explain more than 85% of PM10 seasonal variability in Yazd city. It is recommended to use the model to predict the changes of this air pollutant in other regions with similar climatic and environmental conditions. The results can also be useful for providing suitable solutions to reduce PM10 pollution hazards in Yazd city.

Background Acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) is a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide. Determining subgroups and outcomes of AIS may lead to better treatment. We aimed to investigate the relationship between inflammatory markers and subgroups of AIS with further follow-up of patients in terms of functional outcome score.Methods In this prospective cohort study, we examined white cell count (WCC), neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and qualitative C reactive protein (CRP), in the first 24 hours of patients’ admission. Patients were assigned to AIS subgroups as defined by the TOAST criteria. Then patients’ disability score was followed up after 3 and 6 months, using the modified Rankin Scale.Results We included 217 patients with AIS. The mean age of participants was 72.07 years, and we included 92 women (42.4%). For the AIS subgroup, 83 (38.25%) patients had large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), 41 (18.89%) had cardioembolism and 62 (28.57) had small vessel obstruction. Neutrophil count and NLR showed a statistically significant difference in the subgroups of AIS and were highest in the ‘other’ subgroup of AIS (p0.05). WCC, neutrophil count and NLR showed a positive correlation with functional outcomes (p0.05).Conclusion We can conclude that neutrophil count and NLR are available inflammatory biomarkers for predicting outcomes and these two biomarkers are associated with AIS subgroups. However, ESR, qualitative CRP and lymphocyte count do not appear to be correlated with outcomes or subgroup of AIS.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a febrile systemic vasculitis that affects children. Further research is required due to the disease's significance, consequences, and increasing prevalence. This study aimed to determine the frequency of coronary artery complications in patients with KD referred to Taleghani Hospital (Gorgan, Iran) from 2007 to 2017. Methods: Between 2007 and 2017, 108 cases with a definitive diagnosis of KD were studied retrospectively. Data were obtained from medical records and the patients' biographical, clinical, laboratory, radiographic, and echocardiographic data. Results: A total of 108 patients diagnosed with KD were involved in the study, 21 (19.44%) of whom showed coronary artery-associated complications. There was no significant difference in clinical and laboratory findings and coronary artery involvement between male and female groups (P-value < 0.05). Left coronary artery (LCA) involvement and the pattern of vascular involvement as ectasia and aneurysm were significantly higher in the echocardiography of the studied patients (P-value = 0.0001). Conclusion: Kawasaki disease-related coronary artery complication is more common in children under the age of 3, particularly males, in Gorgan. The LCA is the most common site of coronary artery complications in KD children. The findings can improve the prognosis of KD patients and their related heart diseases.

Knowledge of genetic diversity is the basis of plant breeding and various aspects such as ‎selection of cross parents, protection of germplasm and prevention of genetic erosion are important. The ‎purpose of this research is to evaluate the genetic diversity and investigate the genetic relationships in ‎the native ecotypes of marigold in Iran in order to be used in breeding projects and to protect the ‎genetic reserves of this plant. ‎‎ ‎Materials and methods: In this research, after extracting DNA from young leaves by CTAB method, ‎the molecular diversity of 18 ecotypes of three species of marshmallow bud was investigated using 10 ‎ISSR primers. ‎‎ ‎Results: The total number of bands formed by the primers studied in this research varied between 11 ‎and 23 for each primer. The number of polymorphic bands in this research for ‎the primers was at least 7 and at most 21 bands. In this research, the PIC ranged between 0.19 and 0.42 ‎and its average was 0.29. The highest PIC was related to the ISSR2 marker and the lowest PIC was ‎related to the ISSR4 marker. Cluster analysis showed that at the similarity level of 65%, the ecotypes ‎related to each species were in one group and the ecotypes related to different species were placed in ‎separate groups, so that the ecotypes of Qazvin, Taft, Yazd, Sari, Kerman and Shiraz which All of them ‎belonged to the Althaea Rosea species and were placed in one group. In the second group, the ecotypes ‎belonging to the Althaea Ficifolia species, which included Behshahr, Gorgan, Bam, Rafsanjan, ‎Hamadan and Mashhad, were placed.The results of molecular variance analysis showed that 28% of the variation is within the ‎species and 72% of the variation is Among the studied species. The results of analysis to main ‎coordinates also confirmed the results of cluster analysis. ‎‎ ‎Conclusion; According to the obtained results, the ISSR marker and the primers investigated in this ‎experiment have the necessary efficiency to distinguish the ecotypes and the species of khatami ‎flowers, and on the other hand, due to the genetic diversity of the ecotypes studied in this experiment, ‎it can be The title of the parents was used in the breeding projects of this plant, and in order to preserve ‎the germplasm and prevent genetic erosion, it is suggested to keep the ecotypes studied in this research ‎in plant gene bank ‎.

Addiction medicine is a dynamic field that encompasses clinical practice and research in the context of societal, economic, and cultural factors at the local, national, regional, and global levels. This field has evolved profoundly during the past decades in terms of scopes and activities with the contribution of addiction medicine scientists and professionals globally. The dynamic nature of drug addiction at the global level has resulted in a crucial need for developing an international collaborative network of addiction societies, treatment programs and experts to monitor emerging national, regional, and global concerns. This protocol paper presents methodological details of running longitudinal surveys at national, regional, and global levels through the Global Expert Network of the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM-GEN). The initial formation of the network with a recruitment phase and a round of snowball sampling provided 354 experts from 78 countries across the globe. In addition, 43 national/regional addiction societies/associations are also included in the database. The surveys will be developed by global experts in addiction medicine on treatment services, service coverage, co-occurring disorders, treatment standards and barriers, emerging addictions and/or dynamic changes in treatment needs worldwide. Survey participants in categories of (1) addiction societies/associations, (2) addiction treatment programs, (3) addiction experts/clinicians and (4) related stakeholders will respond to these global longitudinal surveys. The results will be analyzed and cross-examined with available data and peer-reviewed for publication.

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. Various tests and questionnaires are designed to monitor the severity of asthma and help the therapist and the health system prescribe the best treatment to control it. This study was designed to compare two methods Asthma Control Questionnaires (ACQ) and Asthma Control test-child (ACT-CHILD) in children with asthma. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 92 children with asthma referred to the Taleghani hospital, Gorgan, in 2022-2023. Patients were in a range of age 4-16 years. Asthma control was evaluated and compared by two methods ACT-CHILD and ACQ. ACT-CHILD included one version for 4-11-year patients completed by their parents and another one for 12-16 –year patients completed by the patients. The clinical symptoms, age, gender and the parents' records related to asthma were completed during the clinical interview. Data was analyzed using Chi-square and Spearman correlation tests. The degree of agreement between two questionnaires was determined using the Kappa coefficient. Results: 84 children aged 4-11 years (91.3%) and 8 children aged 12-16 years (8.7%) were included in the study. According to the ACT-CHILD, 40.2% of children (n=37) had controlled asthma, 44.6% (n=41) had partially controlled asthma, and 15.2% (n=14) had uncontrolled asthma. Based on the ACQ, controlled asthma was observed in 18.5% (n=17), partially controlled asthma in 35.8% (n=33), and uncontrolled asthma in 45.7% (n=42) of children. Asthma control results based on two questionnaires were significantly different from each other (P0.001) which after categorizing based on age group, this correlation was confirmed only in children aged 4-11 years (r=-0.627, P>0.001). Conclusion: Our findings showed that there is a poor agreement between ACT-CHILD and ACQ results in the assessment of asthma control. Further studies are recommended.

Introduction: A new analytical method based on the coupling of microextraction and microfluidics was developed and investigated for the pre-concentration, separation, and electrochemical detection of fenitrothion (FT) and parathion (PA) at the sub-ppm concentrations. Methods: In the first step, the microchip capillary electrophoresis technique was used to serve as a separation and detection system. Analytes were injected in the 40 mm long microchannel with 10 mm sidearms. Then, they were separated by applying a direct electrical field (+1800 V) between the buffer and detection reservoirs. 2-(n-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES) buffer (20 mM, pH 5) was used as a running buffer. The electrochemical detection was performed using three Pt microelectrodes with the width of working, counter, and reference electrodes (50, 250, and 250 µm, respectively) in the out-channel approach. Results: The system was devised to have the optimum detection potential equal to -1.2 V vs. pseudo-reference electrode. The dimensions of the SU-8 channel have 20 µm depth and 50 µm width. In the second step, an air-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction technique was used to extract and preconcentration of analytes from human blood plasma. Then, 1, 2 di-bromoethan was used as extractant solvent, the analytes were preconcentrated, and the sedimented solvent (50 µL) was evaporated in a 60 ˚C water bath followed by substitution of running buffer containing 10% ethanol. The optimal extraction cycles were found to be 8 with adding 1% NaCl to the aqueous phase. Analyzing time of the mentioned analytes was less than 100s, the precision range was 3.3 – 8.2 with a linear range of 0.8–100 ppm and 1.2–100 ppm for FT and PA, respectively. The extraction recoveries were about 91% and 87% for FT and PA, respectively. The detection limits for FT and PA were 240 and 360 ppb, respectively. Finally, the reliability of the method was investigated by GC-FID. Conclusion: The proposed method and device were validated and can be used as in situ and portable detection systems for detecting fenitrothion and parathion insecticides.

Aim: The main goal of the current research is to analyze the temporal changes in air quality in these areas based on an index of both types of events called the Pollution Dust Storm Index.Material & Method: This study calculated the PDSI using the frequency of local and extra-local dust events. The Mann-Kendall test was used to evaluate the trend of temporal changes in this index at different time scales.Finding: The highest dust pollution in the analyzed statistical period belonged to the cities of Zahedan, Chabahar, Nehbandan, and Yazd, and the lowest air pollution was in Baft, Shahrood, and Shahrbabak stations. The significant incremental changes in dust events occurred for most of the stations in June. On a seasonal scale, maximum and minimum dust pollution occurred in spring and autumn, respectively. The increasing trend of dust occurrences in the spring season and their decreasing trend in the summer season was observed for most of the stations. Conclusion: The findings of evaluating the trend of changes in dust occurrences based on the PDSI index in dry areas of the country, which are affected by dust with different frequencies and intensities throughout the year, can be used to identify sensitive areas and provide necessary measures to prevent and reduce adverse effects caused by dust events.Innovation: In addition to local dust events, extra-local events also impact the air quality of dry areas. Analyzing changes in the PDSI based on both types of events can enhance our understanding of air quality in these regions. This study aims to analyze air pollution changes using this index, which has not been done before for dry areas. The findings can help identify areas with higher air pollution levels and lead to more effective solutions to improve air quality in arid regions.

Sistan region is one of the important regions whose life depends on the flow of Hirmand river. In this research, the trend of changes in the area of Hamoon wetlands and the factors affecting it, were investigated using satellite and meteorological data. For this purpose, the minimum, maximum, average temperature, precipitation and evaporation of Zabol station were used in the period of 1985-2018. Furthermore, satellite products include water bodies extracted from Landsat satellite images (JRC products 1985-2020), NDVI, PDSI, Sentinel 2 and GRACE satellite data used in the period of 2000-2022. The man-Kendall and Sen’s slope tests were used for evaluating time series trends of data. AWEI index was used to calculate the water areas of Sistan region. The results show a significant decrease the minimum, maximum, average temperature, precipitation, area of permanent water bodies, GRACE and PDSI. On the other hand, the changes in NDVI showed a significant increasing trend, which is caused by the quantitative development of agricultural lands in the Sistan plain. Also, the anthropogenic activities of Afghanistan have an impact on this river entering Iran. The results of the AWEI index showed that after the full exploitation of the Kamal Khan diversion dam, the natural flow of the Hirmand River has been diverted towards Gowdzereh in such a way that the area of water flowing in Gowdzereh is more than 34000 hectares and the area of water behind the Kamal-Khan dam is equal to 2899 hectares, which confirms the diversion effect of Kamal Khan Dam.

Today, due to the expansion of the Internet and social networks, people are faced with a vast amount of dynamic information. To mitigate the issue of information overload, recommender systems have become pivotal by analyzing users' activity histories to discern their interests and preferences. However, most available social image recommender systems utilize a static strategy, meaning they do not adapt to changes in user preferences. To overcome this challenge, our paper introduces a dynamic image recommender system that leverages a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) framework, enriched with a novel set of features including emotion, style, and personality. These features, uncommon in existing systems, are instrumental in crafting a user's characteristic vector, offering a personalized recommendation experience. Additionally, we overcome the challenge of state representation definition in reinforcement learning by introducing a new state representation. The experimental results show that our proposed method, compared to some related works, significantly improves Recall@k and Precision@k by approximately 7%-10% (for the top 100 images recommended) for personalized image recommendation.

Introduction: Allergen exposure and sensitivity, asthma progression, and increased airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) are interconnected. The relationship between mite sensitivity and lung function is still unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between mite allergy and pulmonary function decline in patients with asthma referred to Deziani Allergy Clinic in 2017. Material & Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on patients referred to Deziani Allergy Clinic in Gorgan in 2017. The patients were included in the study based on the clinical criteria for asthma. Mite antigen skin test was performed for all patients, and they were divided into two groups: sensitive and non-sensitive. A pulmonologist, allergist, and clinical immunologist performed a pulmonary function test (PFT) and bronchial stimulation test to confirm and evaluate the severity of asthma. Pulmonary function data were statistically compared between the two groups. (Ethic Code: IR.GOUMS.REC.1396.240) Findings: In total, 382 patients with a mean age of 42.75±16.50, including 146 (38.2%) males and 236 (61.8%) females, were included in the study. Moreover, 144 (37.7%), 101 (26.4%), and 137 (35.9%) patients had mild, moderate, and severe asthma, respectively. In addition, 173 (45.3%) cases were sensitive to mites. The FVC, FEV1, and FEF 25-75 values were significantly lower in patients with sensitivity, compared to the group without mite sensitivity (P

Abstract Background Fatigue is one of the most common problems in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and has adverse effects on their sleep status and self-efficacy. This study aimed to determine the effect of distance nurse-led fatigue management on fatigue, sleep quality, and self-efficacy in patients with MS. Methods This quasi-experimental study was performed on 60 patients with MS in Arak, Iran. Subjects were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received eight sessions of nurse-led fatigue management training through the Skyroom platform. The control group received only the usual programs. Data were collected before and two months after the intervention using the Fatigue Severity Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Multiple Sclerosis Self-Efficacy Scale. The significance level in this study was determined 0.05. Results After the intervention, the mean score of fatigue severity in the intervention group was significantly lower than the control group (2.52 ± 0.40 vs 5.65 ± 0.52) (P

Introduction: Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) is a common complication and one of the most common food allergies in infants, and it is estimated that this disease affects 2-3% of children under five years old. Objectives: This study investigated the factors associated with developing immune tolerance in children with CMA in Gorgan. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 50 children with CMA referred to the asthma and allergy clinic of Taleghani Hospital in Gorgan during 2019-2020 were investigated. Multiple logistic regression was applied to measure odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the associations between the selected factors and tolerance to cow’s milk. Results: The results suggested that factors including standard delivery (P=0.024, OR=4.03, 95% CI: 1.20-13.53) and breastfeeding in the first month of birth (P=0.003, OR=6.73, 95% CI:1.94-23.36), and gastrointestinal symptoms (P=0.026, OR=3.78, 95% CI: 1.17-12.19) were associated with immune tolerance to CMA. Younger age of starting complementary feeding (P

Introduction: The total eosinophil count is a marker of asthmatic activity and can be helpful in the early diagnosis of asthma attacks and in determining appropriate steroid doses. However, in some asthmatic patients, the blood eosinophil count may be within the normal range, and the eosinophil level may not necessarily be elevated in patients with bronchial asthma. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the frequency distribution of eosinophil and neutrophil percentages in peripheral blood smears of children experiencing asthma attacks. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using medical records of children with severe asthmatic attacks treated at Ayatollah Taleghani hospital in Gorgan between 2016 and 2020. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the participants to evaluate the neutrophil and eosinophil counts. Results: Out of the 180 medical records analyzed, only 1.7% of patients had eosinophil counts above the normal range, while 86.7% had neutrophil counts above the normal range. The results showed an inverse relationship between the age of patients and their peripheral blood eosinophil levels, although this relationship was not statistically significant (r=-0.06, P=0.41). There was a significant relationship between the neutrophil percentage and the age of the patients; however, this relationship was also not statistically significant (r=0.03, P=0.96). Conclusion: The percentage of eosinophils in peripheral blood can be a reliable predictor for assessing the severity of asthma.

Abstract In this paper, we aimed to investigate the linear and nonlinear optical properties of GO-ZnO and RGO-ZnO nanocomposites in comparison with pure GO and reduced graphene oxide (RGO). For this purpose, GO, RGO, GO-ZnO, and RGO-ZnO were synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–Vis) absorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). XRD and EDX analysis indicated the reduction of GO as well as the successful synthesis of GO-ZnO and RGO-ZnO nanocomposites. The FT-IR spectroscopy showed that absorption bands were at 3340 cm−1, 1630 cm−1, 1730 cm−1 and 480 cm−1 related to OH, C=C, C=O, and Zn–O stretching vibrations, respectively. The direct band gaps of GO, RGO, GO-ZnO and RGO-ZnO from UV–Vis spectra were at 3.36, 3.18, 3.63 and 3.25 eV, sequentially. Moreover, the third-order nonlinear optical properties were investigated using a z-scan technique with Nd: YAG laser (532 nm, 70 mW). It can be seen that the nonlinear absorption coefficient value $$(\upbeta )$$ ( β ) increased from 5.3 × 10–4 (GO) to 8.4 × 10–3 cm/W (RGO-ZnO). In addition, nonlinear refractive index (n2) of the GO, RGO, GO-ZnO, and RGO-ZnO was obtained as 10.9 × 10–10, 14.3 × 10–10, 22.9 × 10–10, and 31.9 × 10–10 cm2/W respectively.

Background and objectives: One of the leading causes of neonatal death is congenital abnormalities. The most prevalent congenital condition in the world is congenital heart disease (CHD), which affects around one-quarter of all live newborns. Given the significance of CHD, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of pediatric congenital heart disease and its variants in Gorgan, northern Iran. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional survey examined 1,416 patients suspected of having CHD who had been referred to the Taleghani Hospital in Gorgan from 2014 to 2016. Results: The most common CHDs were ventricular septal defect (44.92%), atrial septal defect (23.73%), and patent ductus arteriosus (18.63%). Males had a higher rate of transposition of great arteries. Conclusion: The present study expands our knowledge of the regional frequency of CHD types in children with no acquired heart diseases in Gorgan, Iran. Moreover, ventricular septal defect is the most common type of CHD among patients, mainly males.

In this paper, in addition to investigation and analyzing the dynamic model of a maneuver target, a new method based on the Interaction Multiple Model (IMM) method is presented to solve the tracking problem in presence of measurement noise. In this procedure, two models are used along with an extended Kalman filter for each model, for estimation of the states related to stochastic target model. To this end, a specific weight is calculated adaptively for each model and the final estimation of the target is obtained from the weighted sum of the modes related to each model. In this paper, second order Markov models are used to better describe the system behavior which leads to a decrease in the number of required motion models. This means that the previous two models are used to decide on the next model, and a much better algorithm is provided than the first-order IMM algorithm.

[1]Introduction: Oxidative reactions are needed for human survival, but these reactions can sometimes be destructive. There is a lot of evidence that shows many disorders (neurological, renal, hepatic) and diseases such as cancer and vascular diseases, and even food spoilage are caused by oxidative reactions of free radicals. Some types of reactive oxygen species, such as oxygenated water, and free radicals such as hydroxyl and superoxide, can react with certain fats, nucleic acids, and proteins in the body to kill them. In general, any substance that delays or prevents the oxidation process is called an antioxidant. In various studies that have been done so far, the antioxidant and protective properties of the novel plants have been reported. Among other species of medicinal plants, the rosemary plant with the scientific name (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) belongs to the mint family, the leaves of which are used as an additive in many foods. This plant is cultivated in many parts of the world, including Iran, but the main habitat of this plant has been attributed to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The purpose of this study was to identify chemical compounds, antioxidant effects, total phenolic and flavonoids contents, and cytotoxicity effect of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil (ROEO) on colorectal cancer cell line (HT29) and identification of functional groups of ROEO using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Materials and methods: In the present study, the analysis of chemical compounds in ROEO was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The total phenolic and flavonoid content of ROEO was evaluated using Folin-Ciocalteu and colorimetry using aluminum chloride, respectively. Antioxidant properties of ROEO were evaluated by DPPH and ABTS methods. The cytotoxic effect of ROEO on colorectal cancer cell lines (HT29) was evaluated by MTT method. The compositions of the functional groups present in the essential oil were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results and discussion: The chemical analysis of ROEO comprised of 29 compounds, which composed 94.22% of total essential oil. The main compound identified in the essential oil used in this study was eucalyptol with 40.13%. Total phenolic content was 72.55 mg gallic acid per gram of essential oil and its flavonoid content was 36 mg QE/g. The ROEO antioxidant activity for both DPPH and ABTS tests were 78.74% and 81.97%, respectively. The results of cytotoxic effect of ROEO showed that the cytotoxic effect of ROEO was highly dependent on its concentration. The higher the concentration of essential oil, the higher the level of cytotoxicity. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the presence of aldehyde compounds, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters and alkenes. The results of all ROEO tests showed that this essential oil can be used as a potential source in the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and health industries.

Background: Several studies have investigated supplement and drug use prevalence among elite athletes. However, nonelite athletes who exercise in gyms to improve their health and appearance have received less attention. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of supplement use in recreational athletes in Fars, Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 256 recreational athletes (165 men and 91 women, mean age 28.67±7.28) completed the questionnaire (researcher-made), and the differential validity was estimated by the comparison of novice and elite athletes using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Moreover, the reliability of the instrument was confirmed based on internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) and stability (repeatability) using test-retest (correlationcoefficient of the test scores). Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. Results: In this study, 84% of the participants used various supplements, and 54% consumed performance-enhancing and occasional drugs. The most common supplements were multivitamins (77.7%), protein powders (69.1%), fish oil (47.9%), and vitamin D (39.9%). According to the findings, 46.8% of the subjects consumed supplements to improve their physical appearance, while 21.8% used these substances to enhance their health. Meanwhile, 62.2% of the athletes considered themselves fit (not obese/lean), while 31.1% and 33.3% tended to lose weight and slightly gain weight, respectively. Conclusion: According to the results, the rate of consuming supplements, weight loss drugs, occasional drugs, and performance-enhancing drugs was high in the recreational athletes in Fars province, which indicated the necessity of more control and attention to the prevention of excess supplement use and raising awareness in this regard.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between salivary amylase level and computed tomoraphy (CT scan) findings in patients with isolated mild traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) referred to the emergency department of Shahid Hasheminejad Hospital. Methods: Patients with isolated mTBI and indication for brain CT scan who referred to the trauma center of Shahid Hasheminejad Hospital, Mashhad, Iran in 2019 were included in a cross-sectional study. In the initial examination, the patient’s level of consciousness was measured using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and saliva samples were taken at the emergency department to determine the level of salivary amylase. A brain CT scan was performed for all patients. Age, gender, cause of trauma, the trauma severity and CT scan results were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed on the data. Results: One-hundred fifty patients were enrolled in this study (men=101, women=49). The trauma causes were included accidents (n=88; 58%), falls (n=37; 25%) and miscellaneous factors (e.g., quarrels; n=25; 17%). GCS was 15 in 142 patients and 14 in the rest. In all patients, the trauma severity was mild to high risk (Minor). CT scan results unfolded pathology in 10 cases (7%), while the residues (93%) had normal CT scans with no pathological evidence. Salivary amylase level in the patients’ saliva samples was between 137 to 8000 units per liter. Using the t-test to evaluate the relationship between salivary amylase levels and CT scan results uncovered a significant relationship. Spearman correlation revealed no significant relationship between the amylase and GCS levels. Conclusion: Data statistical analysis from 150 patients with isolated head trauma manifested that salivary amylase levels were significantly higher in the patients with pathological findings on CT scans. However, no significant relationship was found between salivary amylase level and age, gender, cause of trauma, and level of consciousness.

Household assets can boost future consumption and protect households from the risks of uncertainty, so asset-based policies become more important. Also, policies in this field can cause the continuous accumulation of the value of household assets. This article provides empirical evidence on the financial behavior of Iranian households. The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between property ownership and social and economic characteristics of households, to find characteristics that can better explain behavioral differences.To achieve this goal, logistic regression was performed on the variables of gender, education level, marital status, age, employment status, number of children in the household, living area, type of life insurance, housing unit ownership status, obtaining bank facilities, and income and wealth status of households that They have been measured by a questionnaire and fitted. The results show that gender, education level, age, number of children in the household, living area, housing unit ownership status, obtaining bank facilities, and family income and wealth status are among the variables that affect the financial choice of households. The findings of this study can help financial planners and consultants to better understand the behavior of households in choosing different financial assets to effectively satisfy the needs of their clients.

Objective: To compare the characteristics of the emergency medical services (EMS) brought COVID-19 patients versus self-referred walk-in patients. Methods: This was a Cross-sectional study of COVID-19 infected cases in Jahrom, south of Iran. Age, sex, the symptoms of beginning days’ passing, respiratory distress, PO2 at arrival, admission length and inhospital death were retrieved for confirming COVID-19 cases in the whole 2020 year. Respiratory distress was considered as the sign that agitates the patient to call EMS care. Survival analysis was used to evaluate the possible difference of the hospitalization outcome in EMS brought or Self-referred walk-in (SRW) patients. Results: There was 704 (27.1%) registries patients transfer to the hospital by EMS and 1895 (72.9%) cases with SRW referred to the hospital. The survival distributions for the EMS group were statistically significant and lower than SRW group (p

After harvesting of Sepestan (Cordia myxa) fruit, it immediately undergoes the physical and chemical spoilage. Therefore, Sepestan fruit has a limited shelf life and some procedures should be considered so that it could be stored and consumed for a longer period of time. One of the practical methods to enhance shelf life of the fruits and vegetables is their conversion into various products such as pickles. In this study, the effect of ripening extent with three different ripening degrees: unripe/green fruit, semi-ripe and ripe were evaluated on the quality of Sepestan pickles during 90 days of storage at the ambient temperature. For pickle preparation, an identical amount of 6% vinegar solution (about 25% of fruit weight) was used and physicochemical, textural, microbial, and sensorial properties of samples were evaluated during the storage period. The results showed that during the storage period, amounts of pH, hardness, cohesiveness, and all the sensory attributes of all the pickle samples decreased while acidity, adhesiveness, and the counts of lactic acid bacteria and molds and yeasts increased. Furthermore, the lowest number of lactic acid bacteria and molds and yeasts count at the end of the keeping period was related to the unripe sample and the highest amount was related to the ripe sample. Throughout the storage period, particularly at the end of 90 days, pickle sample prepared from unripe fruit had significantly (P

Infective endocarditis is rare in children but can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species are the leading causes of this disease. Staphylococcus is more common in people with underlying heart disease, and Streptococcus viridans is more common in people who have had a dental procedure. In general, any fever of unknown origin in children with an underlying heart problem should be carefully evaluated for endocarditis, and empiric therapy should be performed. The main symptoms of the disease include fever, new murmur, deterioration of the previous murmur, hematuria, embolic events, splenomegaly, bleeding splinter, Osler's nodes, Janeway lesion, and Roth spots. One of the important complications of infective endocarditis is cerebrovascular event and stroke. Herein, we describe a 6-year-old girl presented with fever and skin lesions and no history of underlying heart problem or dental procedure. The patient expired after three days of mitral valve infection with S. aureus.

Tuberculosis (TB) has infected billions of people worldwide. The clinical appearance of TB is close to that of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Active pulmonary TB infection can lead to severe pulmonary distress syndrome. Recent studies have revealed the clinical significance of TB surveillance in COVID-19 patients. In this mini-review, we compiled data from published literature and addressed the significance of interplay between TB and SARS-CoV-2 co-infection. Bilateral cross-relationship between these two major public health issues can be classified into two main categories. On one hand, active TB and multidrug-resistance infections lead to poor prognosis, particularly in elderly patients with COVID-19. On the other hand, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic caused major harm to the global TB services and surveillance.

In this study, Citrus sinensis essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation method and the results of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that the oil is rich in limonene (87.86%). Total phenol and flavonoid contents of the CSEO were 125.41 mg GAE/g and 32.50 mg QE/g, respectively. Its antioxidant activity was found to be 39.75 and 52.43%, based on DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity, respectively. The presence of limonene in the CSEO was confirmed by furrier transform infrared spectroscopy. The CSEO was then combined with Cordia myxa fruit mucilage to produce an edible coating in order to improve the microbial and oxidative stability of buffalo meat during storage (10 days, 4 °C). Results showed that the growth of total viable count, psychrotrophic bacteria, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and fungi were significantly inhibited in the buffalo meat samples coated with CMFM+CSEO. The CMFM+CSEO edible coating was also more effective in inhibiting the oxidation progression and moisture and texture losses, in comparison with control sample. According to the sensory evaluation results, the CMFM+CSEO edible coating increased the shelf-life of buffalo meat samples; the samples were acceptable even at the end of storage period (10 days), but the control sample was unacceptable after 7 days of storage. Therefore, the edible coating based on Cordia myxa fruit mucilage and Citrus sinensis essential oil could be used as a natural preservative to increase the shelf-life of buffalo meat and other meat products.

Background and Objectives: Asthma is one of the most common respiratory diseases. Inhaled particles that may trigger allergic reactions and air routes are important factors contributing to asthma. This study aimed to determine the abundance of allergens in children with asthma in Gorgan, Iran. Methods: In this retrospective study, we randomly collected records of all asthmatic patients over five years of age referred to asthma and allergy clinic in Gorgan, Iran. Furthermore, data related to skin prick test were recorded. Results: The severity of asthma differed significantly between males and females. There was a direct relationship between age and reaction to one allergen. In addition, 18 of 25 (72 %) patients with severe asthma were allergic to more than two allergens. Moreover, the most common allergen was mite (56%). Conclusion: Mites are the most common allergen among children with asthma in the study area.

Introduction: The present study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Sports Nutritional Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviors questionnaire (SNKABQ) in adolescent athletes. Methods: SNKABQ was designed by Walsh et al. The questionnaire was translated and re-translated using the WHO standard method and in line with the Iranian culture and nutrition habits. The qualitative content validity of the questionnaire was assessed by five experts, time reliability was assessed using the test-retest method, and the correlation coefficient and differential validity were determined by comparing novice and skilled athletes using the Mann-Whitney U test. In addition, the internal consistency of the questionnaire was assessed based on Cronbach's alpha, and the questionnaire was completed by 191 male and female students aged 15-18 years. Results: The total time reliability of the questionnaire was estimated at 0.86, while it was 0.92 for eating and drinking habits, 0.75 for nutrition attitudes, 0.88 for nutrition knowledge, and 0.89 for nutrition information sources. Moreover, the Mann-Whitney U test indicated that the questionnaire has significant differential validity (P=0.00). The total internal reliability of the questionnaire was determined to be 0.74. The internal reliability of the subscales was also measured and estimated at 0.71 for eating and drinking habits, 0.80 for nutrition attitudes, and 0.70 for nutrition knowledge and nutrition information sources. Conclusion: SNKABQ had acceptable validity and reliability in the adolescent athletes and could be used as a tool for the assessment of Iranian adolescent athletes.

Objective: In this regard, the purpose of this study is to identify, rank and weight the factors affecting the bias of tax auditors or compliance auditors. Methods: The present research is an applied one in terms of purpose and its nature is exploratory. In the qualitative section, by reviewing the theoretical foundations and conducting semi-structured interviews with 17 members of the Supreme Tax Council, affecting components the bias of tax officials was identified. The statistical population of the study is the members of the Supreme Tax Council. After gathering the effective components, in order to rank and weight them, a questionnaire based on fuzzy technique and hierarchical analysis was designed and distributed among experts. After collecting information, the components were ranked using fuzzy technique and their weight was determined based on Analytical Hierarchy process in Expert Choice 11 software. Results: Based on the research findings, 15 components were identified as the main affecting factors on bias of tax officials, which are: the concept of bias, philosophy and mission of taxation, different motives, acceptance of biased tax, inconsistency of goals, borderless judgment, Conflicting rather than interactive perspectives, shortcomings of tax investigation, behavioral controls, bigotry, lack of knowledge, understanding of the concept of tax justice, avoidance and context, personal characteristics and structure. Among these, the results of fuzzy TOPSIS and Analytical Hierarchy process techniques showed that lack of knowledge of the philosophy and mission of taxation, acceptance of biased taxation and lack of proper understanding of the concept of bias are the most important factors. Conclusion: The research findings indicate that tax laws and regulations alone cannot meet the goals of legislators. Fair and equitable tax regulations require the supervision and care of professional executives, and without considering these issues, the mission of taxation and taxation will not be achieved

Introduction: The consumption of high-protein foods after resistance training increases training achievement, which may benefit diabetic patients. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of milk consumption after resistance training on the glycemic control and irisin levels of type II diabetic (T2D) men. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 36 male patients with T2D, mean age of 53.6±4.8 years and mean body mass index of 27.1±3.6 kg/m2. The patients were randomly divided into three groups of control, resistance training (RT), and resistance training and milk consumption (RTM). Eight weeks of RT was performed in three sets of 12 maximum repetitions three days per week. The RTM group consumed 500 milliliters of low-fat milk after the exercise. Fasting blood glucose, insulin, HbA1c, irisin, weight, waist-to-hip ratio, muscle strength, and limb circumference were measured before and after the intervention. Data analysis was performed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Compared to the RT group, the leg strength (mean±95% CI: -49.80±31.53; P

Abstract Background Drought is one of the most important environmental stresses that can adversely influence soil properties, plant growth, and productivity of agricultural crops including eggplant as an important vegetable crop. In recent years, the use of agricultural wastes has been reported as a beneficial and sustainable measure in soil water retention and fertility enhancement. In this study, the effect of date palm and pistachio biochar, vermicompost and a combination of biochar and vermicompost was evaluated on eggplant growth, yield and water use efficiency under deficit irrigation. Materials and methods The experiment was done in a split-split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications and under open field conditions. The main plot was deficit irrigation in three levels of 100, 75 and 50% of plant water requirement (PWR), and the sub-plots were vermicompost in two levels of 0, 1500 g m−2, and biochar in three levels of 0, 500 g m−2 of the pistachio biochar and 500 g m−2 of the date palm biochar. Results The results showed that soil amendment with vermicompost and pistachio biochar and 100% PWR showed the best plant growth and performance. The early crop yield was highest under pistachio biochar and 50% PWR, while the total plant yield was highest under combined application of vermicompost and pistachio biochar at 100% PWR. The plant water use efficiency was maximum under mixed application of vermicompost and pistachio biochar at 50% PWR. Application of both pistachio biochar and vermicompost at 100% PWR resulted in the highest leaf concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron and manganese. The highest levels of physiologically important stress metabolites, including malondialdehyde, guaiacol peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes were found in treatments without amendments or only with vermicompost and 50% PWR. Conclusion The results indicate that under normal and particularly water deficit conditions, vermicompost and biochar increased eggplant vegetative growth, yield and water use efficiency.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and epidemiological features of deceased patients and comparing the discrepancies between male and female patients based on high prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), its irreversible effects and the rising mortality rate in Jahrom city. Methods: This is a descriptive-analytical retrospective study that was conducted from the beginning of March 2020 to the end of November 2020. The study population were included all patients with COVID-19 who admitted to Peymaniyeh Hospital in Jahrom and died of COVID-19. Clinical and demographic data were collected from medical records and analyzed by SPSS software. Results: In this study, 61 patients (57.54%) were men and 45 patients (42.36%) were women. The mean age was 68.7±18.33 in men and 68.82±14.24 in women. The mean hospitalization length was 9.69±7.75 days in men and 9.69±7.75 days in women patients. There was no statistically significant difference between men and women patients (p>0.05). The results showed that 17 (27.87%) men and 28 (45.9%) of women patients had hypertension and the prevalence of this disease was significantly higher in women than men (p=0.01). In this study, 7 (11.48%) men and 13 (21.31%) women had hyperlipidemia. The frequency of hyperlipidemia in women caseswas significantly higher than in men patients (p=0.024). Men cases’ diastolic blood pressure (mean=77.53) was significantly higher than women’s diastolic blood pressure at the same time with a mean of 71.42 (p

Background and Objective: Congenital anomalies are one of the major causes of neonatal mortality. Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect world wide, and recent studies about CHD have reported congenital heart disease approximately is about one percent of all live births. This study was done to determine the frequency of congenital heart disease using ecocardiography in patients with extra-cardiac anomalies in Gorgan peadiatric center in north of Iran. Methods: In this descriptive study, 55 girls, 84 boys a total of 139 patients were in the age range of birth to 12 years of age whom have referred to Taleghani Teaching and Medical Center in Gorgan during 2012-17. 139 cases of congenital heart disorders with echocardiographic report sheet in their medical record were evaluated. Information of patients including age, sex, ethnicity, type of extra-cardiac, anomalies, cardiac anomalies (simple, complex and ductal anomalies), cardiac murmur status, and clinical symptoms were extracted from their medical records. Results: From of total of echocardiography, 139 patients (88.5%) were affected by congenital heart disease. The anomalies were included of 88 cases (56.05%), 48 cases (31.21%), 2 cases (1.27%) simple, complex anomaly and ductal dependent anomaly respectively. The other disorders accompanied with congenital heart diseases were 17 cases (12.2%) with cleft palate, 4 cases (2.9%) with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 8 cases (5.8%) with closed anus, 52 cases (37.4%) with Down syndrome, 4 cases (2.9%) with Turner syndrome, 4 cases (2.9%) with ileum atresia, 11 cases (7.9%) with Esophageal atresia, 7 cases (5%) with Hirschsprungchr('39')s disease, 6 cases (4.3%) with urogenital anomalies and 26 cases (18.7%) with other extra-cardiac abnormalities. Conclusion: Down syndrome and cleft palate are among the highest prevalant anomalies with congenital heart diseases.

Introduction: In this study, with the help of peripheral vein sampling, Spvo2, and peripheral artery and vein sampling, we examined base excess (BE) in trauma patients and determined its diagnostic value for hemorrhagic shock. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, from 64 patients with abdominal, pelvic and chest Blunt trauma who have a score of 2 or higher trauma during treatment, blood samples were taken from peripheral vein to measure oxygen saturation and peripheral vein and artery for BE measurements and were compared in order to assess their diagnostic value in predicting the occurrence of hemorrhagic shock. Results: Out of 60 examined patients, 43 (71.67%) patients were diagnosed with hemorrhagic shock. The correlation for the percentage of oxygen saturation of the peripheral blood and the rate of arterial and venous BE for these r2 patients were 17.0 and 09.0, respectively, with a P value greater than 0.005. In the case of the percentage of oxygen saturation of the peripheral blood, the sensitivity and specificity were 93.03 and 11.76%, respectively. The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 1.05 and 0.59, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 72.73 and 40%, respectively. Conclusion: In general, the results of this study showed that arterial and venous excess base levels had a proper correlation, specificity and sensitivity for diagnosing and predicting hemorrhagic shock, while the percentage of oxygen saturation of peripheral blood and BE arterial and venous levels had not proper correlation to detect and predict hemorrhagic shock.

Background and objectives: BK virus (BKV) reactivation is a major challenge for renal transplant recipients. The purpose of this study was to summarize current knowledge on the status of BKV in Iranian renal transplant recipients. Methods: Specific terms, including “BKV” and “Renal Transplantation” were used to search the online databases. I2 and Cochran’s Q-value were tested for heterogeneity. The incidence rate was determined at 95% confidence interval. Publication bias was also investigated using funnel plot, the Egger’s and Begg’s statics. Results: Twelve studies were included in the study. The random modelchr('39')s overall evidence rate was 0.347 (CI 95%, 0.225-0.493, p-value=0.04). Conclusions: In Iran, the estimated prevalence of BKV among renal transplant recipients is 34.7% (~10-60%), which is higher than the rate reported from other parts of the world. Therefore, it is recommended to screen organ donors for BKV in Iran.

Abstract During the last years, several strategies have been made to obtain mature erythrocytes or red blood cells (RBC) from the bone marrow or umbilical cord blood (UCB). However, UCB-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are a limited source and in vitro large-scale expansion of RBC from HSC remains problematic. One promising alternative can be human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) that provide an unlimited source of cells. Human PSCs, including embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), are self-renewing progenitors that can be differentiated to lineages of ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. Several previous studies have revealed that human ESCs can differentiate into functional oxygen-carrying erythrocytes; however, the ex vivo expansion of human ESC-derived RBC is subjected to ethical concerns. Human iPSCs can be a suitable therapeutic choice for the in vitro/ex vivo manufacture of RBCs. Reprogramming of human somatic cells through the ectopic expression of the transcription factors (OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, c-MYC, LIN28, and NANOG) has provided a new avenue for disease modeling and regenerative medicine. Various techniques have been developed to generate enucleated RBCs from human iPSCs. The in vitro production of human iPSC-derived RBCs can be an alternative treatment option for patients with blood disorders. In this review, we focused on the generation of human iPSC-derived erythrocytes to present an overview of the current status and applications of this field.

Fishing has been one of the most important sources of livelihood among the coastal societies of the Persian Gulf, and seafood constitutes a major food source of the people. The people apply different techniques of fishing among them; Gargur is the most common and is deeply rooted in the organic relationship between the people and the environment. Through looking at this fishing method as a “total social fact,” this article intends to study this technique, the production of its tool (Gargur), and the cultural and social relationships that are formed around this fishing method. On the other hand, increasing the application of industrial fishing methods such as trawling caused considerable damage to sea resources and led to unsustainable development. The article also intends to investigate the ways of increasing the efficacy of Gargur fishing and promote it as a sustainable alternative to industrial fishing in order to, at least, reduce the unfavorable effects of industrial fishing such as trawling.

Background and Aim: Musculoskeletal disorders are mainly prevalent among college students who experience direct contact with patients. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal pains among Rehabilitation, Dentistry, and Nursing students at Arak University of Medical Sciences in 2017-2018. Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 538 students of Arak University of Medical Sciences were recruited using the convenience sampling approach. Variables included age, sex, body mass index, study field, hours of using smartphone per day, and nine symptom sites being neck, shoulders, upper back, elbows, low back, wrist/hands, hips/thighs, knees, and ankles/feet. The researchers assessed the musculoskeletal pain by using the Nordic questionnaire and demographic questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS V. 18. Ethical Considerations: The Research Ethics Committee of Arak University of Medical Sciences approved this study (Code: IR.ARAKMU.REC.1397.253). Results: In this study, 538 students (205 males and 333 females) were studied with Mean±SD age of 22.04±2.53 years old. The results showed that the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in the spine (neck 29.4%, upper 24.3%, and lower back 37.2%) was higher than in upper and lower extremities. Musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder, upper, lower back, and thigh were significantly different based on sex. Also, musculoskeletal pain in the neck and ankle, and foot were significantly different based on age (P

Objective(s): Access to safe drinking and irrigation water has always been one of the major human concerns worldwide. Thus, rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive approaches for pathogenic bacteria detection, such as Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EHEC) that can induce important infectious diseases, are highly on demand. Materials and Methods: In this study, a sensitive aptamer-based AuNPs bioassay was developed that demonstrated its potential to detect EHEC. In the presence of the target bacterium, the specific adsorbed aptamer, leaves AuNPs surface and interacts with EHEC. The bare nanoparticles aggregate in the presence of NaCl and the color shifts from red to purple and blue depending on the bacterial concentration. Results: The proposed aptasensor exhibited a good linear response over a wide concentration range of 876 to 107 CFU/ml and was closely correlated with the line equation of “y=0.0094x+0.0006” (R2= 0.9861). It also showed a low detection limit (LOD) of 263 CFU/ml (Signal/Noise=3). No response was recorded in the presence of other tested bacterial strains including Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhi, indicating the high selectivity of the aptasensor. Conclusion: This biosensor may be used as a smart device to screen water reservoirs and prevents the outbreak of EHEC-related life-threatening contagious diseases.

Objective: To evaluate the wound healing activity of Crocus pallasii subsp. haussknechtii boiss leaves extract on infected wounds in diabetic rats. Methods: Fifty male diabetic rats were randomized into two sets of 25 animals each. Each group was sub divided into five groups of five animals, each for excisional and incisional wound models, respectively. Induction of diabetes was achieved using 60 mg/kg streptozotocin. In group I, 0.1 mL sterile saline 0.9% solution was added to the wounds with no infection. In group II, the wounds were infected with Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and only treated with 0.1 mL the sterile saline 0.9% solution. In group III, infected wounds were treated with application of base formulation ointment. In group IV, animals with infected wounds were treated with 0.1 mL topical application of 1 mg/mL methicillin and base formulation ointment. In group V, animals with infected wounds were treated with topical application of 0.1 mL solution of methicillin (1 mg/mL) and with 1g of powder extract of the plant material in ointment. The healing of the wound was assessed based on planimetry, hydroxyproline estimation, microbiological, biomechanical and biochemical studies Results: Microbiological examination, planimetric, histological and quantitative morphometric studies and determination of hydroxyproline levels showed that there was significant difference between animals in group V compared to other groups (p=0.001). Biomechanical indices in incisional groups showed there was significant difference between animals in group V compared to other groups (p=0.001). Conclusion: It was possible to conclude that the ointment of the extract of Crocus pallasii subsp. haussknechtii boiss. leaves have significant wound-healing activity in diabetes.

Introduction: As one of the major health problems in the present century, the COVID-19 pandemic affected all parts of the global communities and the health of substance users are potentially at a greater risk of harm. This global study has been designed and conducted by the International Society of Addiction Medicine Practice and Policy Interest Group (ISAM-PPIG) to understand better the health related issues of people with Substance Use Disorders (SUD) as well as responses of the relevant health care systems during the pandemic. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using convenient sampling. The data gathering was carried out with two follow-up stages each two months apart through an online conducted survey prepared using Google platform. The survey started by emergence of COVID-19 as a pandemic in March 2020 and respondents were followed till September 2020 when most of the initial lockdowns by most countries are supposed to be reopened. Ethics and Dissemination: The study was approved by the ethics committee of University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The results will be published in relevant peer reviewing journals and communicated with different international stakeholders.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of the five-level triage system using the emergency severity index (ESI) and to determine the compliance of the triage level with patient outcomes. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study which was performed in the emergency department of Imam Reza Hospital of Mashhad during 2017. We included all the adult patients (≥15 years of age) referring to the emergency department. The data were recorded in a questionnaire containing three sections including demographic information, results of triage by ESI and final outcome of the patient. Patients referred to the triage unit were simultaneously triaged by triage nurse and some emergency medicine physicians. The triage was performed by a nurse with an emergency medicine physician (EMP) was considered as a gold standard and the outcome was compared in 24 hours later. Results: Overall, we included 400 patients with a mean age of 46.40 ± 18.52 years among whom there were 211 (52.8%) men and 189 (47.3%) women. Finally, 123 patients were hospitalized, 12 died, 256 were discharged by a physician, and 9 people left the hospital with their own consent. The calculated weight kappa was used to determine the agreement between the observers (nurse triage and physician) at 0.701 so that the agreement between the triage performed by a nurse and an EMP was in an excellent level (pp Conclusion: The results of the current study revealed that the five-level triage system using the ESI has a high accuracy in triage and estimates the patient outcomes effectively and thus, could be used as an effective system in hospital triage.

Abstract Background Ceftriaxone is one of the most common types of antibiotics used to treat most deadly bacterial infections. One way to alleviate the side effects of medication is to reduce drug consumption by changing the ordinary drug forms into nanostructured forms. In this study, a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) containing hydrophilic ceftriaxone sodium drug is developed, and its effect on eliminating gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli death is investigated. Methods Double emulsion solvent evaporation method is applied to prepare NLC. Mathematical modeling based on the solubility study is performed to select the best materials for NLC preparation. Haftyzer-Van Krevelen and Hoy’s models are employed for this purpose. Drug release from optimized NLC is examined under in vitro environment. Then, the efficacy of the optimized sample on eliminating gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli is investigated. Results Mathematical modeling reveals that both methods are capable of predicting drug encapsulation efficiency trends by chaining solid and liquid lipids. However, Haftyzer-Van Krevelen’s method can precisely predict the particle size trend by changing the surfactant types in water and oily phases of emulsions. The optimal sample has a mean particle size of 86 nm and drug entrapment efficiency of 83%. Also, a controlled drug release in prepared nanostructures over time is observed under in-vitro media. The results regarding the effectiveness of optimized NLC in killing Escherichia coli bacteria suggests that by cutting drug dosage of the nanostructured form in half, an effect comparable to that of free drug can be observed at longer times. Conclusion Results confirm that NLC structure is an appropriate alternative for the delivery of ceftriaxone drug with a controlled release behavior.

Background and objectives: Despite advances in prenatal care, there is a high rate of morbidity and mortality in infants of diabetic mothers. Interventricular septal hypertrophy is a well-known congenital heart abnormality in neonates of mothers with gestational diabetes. In this study, we investigate the effect of gestational diabetes mellitus on interventricular septum thickness. Methods: In this cross-sectional cohort study, 42 neonates from mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus and 42 neonates from non-diabetic mothers were selected from gynecology ward of Sayyad Shirazi Hospital in Gorgan (Iran) between April 2016 and April 2017. Ventricular septum thickness in neonates was measured by M-mode echocardiography. Comparison of septum thickness and frequency of septal hypertrophy between the two groups was performed using t-test, Mann-Whitney test and chi-square test. All statistical analyses were preformed in SPSS 16 at significance level of 0.05. Results: The mean septum thickness was 4.51±1.58 mm in newborns of non-diabetic mothers and 5.84±1.44 mm in newborns of diabetic mothers (P

Background: Human gait as an effective behavioral biometric identifier has received much attention in recent years. However, there are challenges which reduce its performance. In this work we aim at improving performance of gait systems under variations in view angles, which present one of the major challenges to gait algorithms. Methods: We propose employment of a view transformation model based on sparse and redundant (SR) representation. More specifically, our proposed method trains a set of corresponding dictionaries for each viewing angle, which are then used in identification of a probe. In particular, the view transformation is performed by first obtaining the SR representation of the input image using the appropriate dictionary, then multiplying this representation by the dictionary of destination angle to obtain a corresponding image in the intended angle. Results: Experiments performed using CASIA Gait Database, Dataset B, support the satisfactory performance of our method. It is observed that in most tests, the proposed method outperforms the other methods in comparison. This is especially the case for large changes in the view angle, as well as the average recognition rate. Conclusion: A comparison with state-of-the-art methods in the literature showcases the superior performance of the proposed method, especially in the case of large variations in view angle.

Objective: To assess regenerative capacities of chitosan-nanoselenium conduit on transected sciatic nerve in diabetic rats.Methods: A 10-mm sciatic nerve defect was bridged using a chitosan-nanoselenium conduit filled with phosphate buffered saline. In chitosan group, the chitosan conduit was filled with phosphate buffered saline solution. In sham-operated group, sciatic nerve was exposed and closed. In transected group, right sciatic nerve was transected and nerve cut ends were fixed in the adjacent muscle. The regenerated fibers were studied within 12 weeks after surgery.Results: The behavioral and functional and electrophysiological tests confirmed faster recovery of the regenerated axons in chitosan-nanoselenium conduit group compared to chitosan group (p=0.001). The mean ratios of gastrocnemius muscles weight were measured. There was statistically significant difference between the muscle weight ratios of chitosan-nanoselenium conduit and chitosan groups (p=0.001). Morphometric indices of regenerated fibers showed number and diameter of the myelinated fibers were significantly higher in chitosan-nanoselenium conduit group than in chitosan group.Conclusion: chitosan-nanoselenium conduit resulted in acceleration of functional recovery and quantitative morphometric indices of sciatic nerve.