758 research outputs found
Synthesizing efficacious genistein in conjugation with superparamagnetic Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> decorated with bio-compatible carboxymethylated chitosan against acute leukemia lymphoma
Abstract Background Genistein (C15H10O5) is a soy isoflavone with anti-cancer properties such as inhibition of cell growth, proliferation and tumor invasion, but effective dosage against hematopoietic malignant cells was not in non-toxic range. This property cause to impede its usage as chemotherapeutic agent. Therefore, this hypothesis raised that synthesizing biocompatible nanoparticle could assist to prevail this struggle. Methods Genistein covalently attached on Fe3O4 nanoparticles decorated with carboxymethylated chitosan to fabricate Fe3O4-CMC-genistein in alkaline circumstance. This obtained nanoparticles were evaluated by TEM, DLS, FTIR, XRD and VSM and its anti-cancer effect by growth rate and MTT assays as well as flow cytometer on ALL cancer cell lines. Results Different evaluations indicated that the drug delivery vehicle had a mean diameter size around 12Ęm with well bounded components. This system presented high degree of magnetization and superparamagnetic properties as well as good water solubility. In comparison with pure genistein, significant growth inhibition on hematopoietic cancer cells in lower dose of genistein nano-conjugated onto Fe3O4-CMC. It increased long lasting effect of genistein in cancer cells also. Conclusion This delivery system for genistein could be remarkably promised and futuristic as biocompatible chemotherapeutic agent against hematopoietic malignant cells
Investigating the role of defense mechanisms on marital adjustment in infertile couples based on the cause of infertility: A cross-sectional study
Background: Infertility affects individualās and couplesā adjustment. The defense mechanism and marital adjustment are mental processes that play a key role in infertile couplesā life.
Objective: This study aims to investigate the role of defense mechanisms on marital adjustment in infertile couples based on the cause of infertility.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 infertile couples at Royan Institute (A referral center for infertility, Tehran, Iran). Infertile couples were divided into 4 groups based on the cause of infertility (female, male, both, and unknown). Demographic questionnaire, revised dyadic adjustment scale, and defense styles questionnaire were used for data collection.
Results: Results showed that the mean score of marital adjustment of men based on the cause of infertility (female, male, and both) was significantly higher in comparison with their wives (p = 0.04, p ā¤ 0.001, p ā¤ 0.001, respectively). However, no difference was observed between the mean score of women, men, and couples (women and husbands) in defense mechanisms. But marital adjustment has a significant positive correlation with mature defense mechanisms and a negative correlation with immature ones (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The mean score of marital adjustment is higher in men than in their wives in all groups. So, counseling infertile couples in the field of marital adjustment and training in the use of mature defense mechanisms is recommended especially in women.
Key words: Defense mechanism, Marital relationship, Infertility
A Standardized Shift Handover Protocol: Improving Nursesā Safe Practice in Intensive Care Units
Introduction: For maintaining the continuity of care and improving the quality of care, effective inter-shift information communication is necessary. Any handover error can endanger patient safety. Despite the importance of shift handover, there is no standard handover protocol in our healthcare settings. Methods In this one-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study conducted in spring and summer of 2011, we recruited a convenience sample of 56 ICU nurses. The Nursesā Safe Practice Evaluation Checklist was used for data collection. The Content Validity Index and the inter-rater correlation coefficient of the checklist was 0.92 and 89, respectively. We employed the SPSS 11.5 software and the Mc Nemar and paired-samples t test for data analysis. Results: Study findings revealed that nursesā mean score on the Safe Practice Evaluation Checklist increased significantly from 11.6 (2.7) to 17.0 (1.8) (P < 0.001). Conclusion: using a standard handover protocol for communicating patientās needs and information improves nursesā safe practice in the area of basic nursing care
The Application of Palatal Rugae for Sex Discrimination in Forensic Medicine in a Selected Iranian Population
Background: Palatal rugae have been shown to be associated with racial and geographical variations and are known to be useful in sex identification. The present study aimed to assess palatal rugae patterns in a sample Iranian population and to compare the results with those from other studied populations.
Methods: During summer 2017, 130 pre-orthodontic plaster casts from patients aged 17-25 years (65 males and 65 females) were obtained from the Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. The castes were evaluated using the classification given by Thomas and Kotze followed by recording the rugae lengths and shapes. The data were analyzed with the SPSS statistical software package (version 15.0) using the unpaired t test and Chi-square test. P<0.05 were considered statistically significant. Additionally, discriminant function analysis was applied to determine the applicability of palatal rugae patterns as a tool to aid sex identification.
Results: The rugae count showed an insignificant difference between the Iranian males and females. The primary rugae were most common in both sexes followed by the secondary and fragmentary. Significant differences were observed between the sexes and the number of primary rugae in males (P=0.03) and fragmentary rugae in females (P=0.04) on the left side of the palate. A significant difference in the straight and diverging unification types was observed, which was highest in males (P=0.01) and females (P=0.03), respectively. Discriminant function analysis enabled sex identification with an accuracy of 70%.
Conclusion: Palatal rugae is shown to be an appropriate tool for sex identification in an Iranian population. Further studies with a larger sample size are required for a comprehensive outcome
Characteristics of Palatal Rugae Patterns as a Potential Tool for Sex Discrimination in a Sample of Iranian Children
Statement of the Problem: Palatal rugae have been considered equivalent to fingerprints, as they are unique to each individual. It has been shown that palatal rugae are associated with specific racial groups and are known to aid sex identification. Due to the lack of any published data on palatal rugae morphology on Iranian children, the present study was performed.
Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate differences in the morphology of individual palatal in a sample of Iranian children. Additionally, it is intended to develop discriminant function to identify sex, based on rugae morphology.
Materials and Method: A total of 120 pre-orthodontic casts were evaluated for different rugae patterns using the Thomas and Kotze classification. The casts were equally distributed between sexes with an age range of 6-12 years. Rugae length, shape, and associated morphology were recorded and the independent t-test and Chi-square test were used to compare the mean and relationship between the attributes. The discriminant function analysis was applied to the data in order to determine the applicability of palatal rugae patterns as an aid for sex identification.
Results: While the total rugae count showed an insignificant difference between the males and females, the rugae count on the right side of the palates showed a significant difference (p= 0.046). The primary rugae were most common in both sexes, followed by the secondary and fragmentary rugae. The most prevalent rugae shape between both sexes was the wavy rugae followed by the curve and straight shapes in males and the straight and curve shapes in females. A significant difference was observed in the number of the curve rugae between the sexes. Discriminant function analysis allowed sex differentiation with an accuracy of 60.8%.
Conclusion: Palatal rugae shapes are unique to each individual and could be used as a potential tool for sex identification. Further research on a larger sample is required to fully confirm the application of this method (e.g. in forensic medicine) as a complementary technique for sex identification
Sensor Fault Detection and Compensation with Performance Prescription for Robotic Manipulators
This paper focuses on sensor fault detection and compensation for robotic
manipulators. The proposed method features a new adaptive observer and a new
terminal sliding mode control law established on a second-order integral
sliding surface. The method enables sensor fault detection without the need to
impose known bounds on fault value and/or its derivative. It also enables fast
and fixed-time fault-tolerant control whose performance can be prescribed
beforehand by defining funnel bounds on the tracking error. The ultimate
boundedness of the estimation errors for the proposed observer and the
fixed-time stability of the control system are shown using Lyapunov stability
analysis. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified using numerical
simulations on two different robotic manipulators, and the results are compared
with existing methods. Our results demonstrate performance gains obtained by
the proposed method compared to the existing results
Effect of a long bout versus short bouts of walking on weight loss during a weight loss diet: a randomized trial
Objective: To evaluate the effect of different daily physical activity (PA) frequencies while maintaining the same daily volume of PA on weight loss, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, in women with overweight/obesity throughout a 24- week intervention.Methods: 65 women [BMI = 27- 35 kg/mĀ²; age= 18-40 y] who had a sedentary lifestyle were randomly allocated to include either a longer-bout of PA (LBP), 50 min/d moderate-intensity PA, or two shorter-bouts of PA (SBP), two 25 min/d moderate intensity PA, 6 d/week during their weight loss plan. Anthropometric and blood measurements were taken at baseline and 24 weeks.Results: Compared with the LBP group, the SBP group had a greater decrease in weight (SBP: -8.08 Ā± 2.20 kg; LBP: -6.39 Ā± 2.28 kg; P = 0.019), BMI (SBP: -3.11 Ā± 0.87 kg/mĀ²; LBP: -2.47 Ā± 0.86 kg/mĀ², P=0.027) and waist circumference (SBP: -8.78 Ā± 2.62 cm; LBP: -5.76 Ā± 2.03 cm; P = 0.026). No significant differences were seen in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism characteristics after the 24 weeks.Conclusion: PA undertaken in 2 shorter-bouts per day could be more effective for weight loss than when undertaken in a daily long-bout in adult women on a 24 wk weight loss program
Beneficial effect of high energy intake at lunch rather than dinner on weight loss in healthy obese women in a weight-loss program: a randomized clinical trial
ABSTRACT
Background: The association between the time of nutrient intake and health has been described in a few studies. To our knowledge, no study has evaluated the relation between high energy intakes at lunch compared with at dinner on weight loss in overweight and obese subjects.
Objective: We compared the effect of high energy intake at lunch with that at dinner on weight loss and cardiometabolic risk factors in women during a weight-loss program.
Design: Overweight and obese women [n = 80; body mass index
(BMI; in kg/m2): 27ā35; age: 18ā45 y] were asked to eat either a main meal at lunch (LM) or a main meal at dinner (DM) for 12 wk while in a weight-loss program.
Results: A total of 80 participants were randomly assigned to one of 2 intervention groups. Sixty-nine subjects (86%) completed the trial (34 subjects in the DM group, and 35 subjects in the LM group). Baseline variables were not significantly different between groups. A significant reduction in anthropometric measurements and significant
improvements in cardiometabolic risk characteristics were observed over 12 wk in both groups. Compared with the DM group, the LM group had greater mean 6 SD reductions in weight (LM: 25.85 6 1.96 kg; DM: 24.35 6 1.98 kg; P = 0.003), BMI (LM: 2.276 0.76; DM: 1.68 6 0.76; P = 0.003), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (LM: 20.66 6 0.33; DM: 20.46 6 0.24; P = 0.001), and fasting insulin (LM: 22.01 6 1.10 mIU/mL; DM: 21.16 6 0.72 mIU/mL; P , 0.001) after 12 wk. However, there were no significant differences for fasting plasma glucose and lipid profiles
within both groups after 12 wk.
Conclusions: The consumption of higher energy intake at lunch compared with at dinner may result in favorable changes in weight loss in overweight and obese women after a weight-loss program of 12 wk. The consumption may also offer clinical benefits to improve insulin resistance. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02399280. Am J Clin Nutr doi: 10.3945/ajcn.116.134163
Explanation Ethical Leadership Components in Islamic Republic of Iran's Defense Industry Organization with a Qualitative Approach
AbstractThe purpose of the present study is to introduce those characteristics of ethical leaders. This research uses an interpretive philosophy, a qualitative approach, and a grounded strategy based on Glaserās emergent approach. The study population was the Defense Industries Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In addition, comprehensive interviews were conducted with 22 senior and ethical managers of the organization who were knowledgeable about the components and characteristics of ethical leaders. The sampling method was based on snowball sampling. Since the data were collected using interview method, the data analysis method was based on the Glaserās coding method, and the results of interview analysis and coding in two stages of actual and theoretical coding showed that ethical leadership components included religiosity, ethical personality, being revolutionary and having analytical insights. Each of these components comprises categories that totaled 4 components, 43 categories, and 698 concepts. Overall, considering the ethical leadership components in this indigenous study, ethical leaders in this organization have characteristics that encourage Defense Industries Organization executives to achieve these benchmarks to cope with enemy threats as well as international and economic constraints and attain organizational excellence as well as modernization and transformation in the organization so that they can drive organization employees toward organizational goals with better motivation and more efforts.IntroductionEthics and ethical leadership is one of the topics that has always been of interest to individuals and organizations and has recently been extensively studied and researched as an interesting topic (Laajalahti, 2018). The abundance of research in this area is evidence of the importance of ethics (Maroto-SĆ”nchez, 2012). On the other hand, one of the issues that has been the concern of organizations and researchers for the past four decades is leadership styles. It is also important for government and government agencies to examine the issue of organizational ethics (Joseph et al., 2009), because research results indicate that the weakness of organizational ethics will reduce the sense of responsibility in the organization, reduce productivity, increase organizational costs and lead to the spread of unethical behavior in the organization (Duh et al., 2010). Therefore, due to the importance of ethical issues in the workplace (Caza et al., 2004), ethics has become an essential element in organizations (Trevino & Nelson, 2016), because ethical leadership can influence the formation of an ethical environment in an organization, which in turn affects and reduces deviant behavior in the workplace.Theoretical frameworkExperts and scholars have examined the term leadership from various perspectives and provided various definitions of it. Mohammed et al. (2014: 89) consider the leadership as an essential and dynamic element of employee satisfaction and organizational performance that is seen as an important issue in employee job satisfaction and as a critical factor for organizational success. Ho et al. (H2016: 160) define leadership as a process of social effectiveness through which the leader seeks to create a voluntary participation of followers to achieve the organization's interests and goals. Some others have also identified the leader as a determinative, motivating, driving, mobilizing, influential person for followers to make them perform their tasks to achieve specific organizational goals (Elbaz & Haddoud, 2017).Ethical leadership, through demonstrating ethical behavior and consequently the development of ethical behavior, leads to commitment in followers (Caldwell, 2017). Ethical leadership was conceptualized by Brown, TreviƱo, and Harrison (Brow, et al., 2005) as follows: demonstrating normative appropriate behavior through personal actions and interpersonal relationships, and promoting such behavior for followers through empowerment, decision making, and two-way communication. Kalahan (1998) also provide a definition of theoretical normative ethics, especially virtue ethics, which focuses on the actions and practices of ethical factors, which is in line with the definition of Brown et al. (2005). The definition of ethical leadership provided by Brown, TreviƱo, and Harrison (Brown et al., 2005) has been accepted as the benchmark definition and has therefore been used by subsequent researchers (Brown & TreviƱo, 2014; Neubert et al., 2009; Piccolo et al., 2010; Stouten et al., 2012).Materials and MethodsThis research uses an interpretive philosophy, a qualitative approach, and a grounded strategy with an emergent approach, and its analysis method is based on the Glaserās coding approach. TrustworthinessĀ of the findings (validity and reliability) of the research was also assessed through four criteria of Guba and Lincoln that included validity, transferability, reliability, and verifiability.According to the examinations by the researchers of this study in relation to the interrelations between the concepts, it seems that in this study, the "dimensions" family in the emergent approach may best combine concepts and categories. The model of this study is embedded in the ādimension coding familyā. As mentioned, the components of ethical leadership include 4 components, 43 categories, and 698 codes or concepts. The first component is religiosity, the second one is ethical personality, the third is to be revolutionary, and the last one is to have analytical insights.Case StudyThe study population is the Defense Industries Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In fact, the study population consisted of the employees and experts of the Defense Industries Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran who had theoretical and practical knowledge of the subject matter and had sufficient dominance over the examined phenomenon and had experienced ethical leadership.ConclusionEthical leadership generally consists of the components that efforts are made to achieve them. These components are in the form of traits that moral leaders possess. However, these components do not exist in all ethical leaders, but an ethical leader must possess all these components to necessarily and sufficiently benefit from these qualities, otherwise he may not fully implement ethical leadership. However, some traits per se enable one to become an ethical leader. For example, the religiosity feature can improve other features.Another component of ethical leadership is ethical character. Consistent with the results of this study, one author described the dimensions of ethical leadership as honesty, compassion, and fairness (Karami et al., 2016). Kalshoven (2011) also consider some aspects of ethical leadership as fairness, honesty, ethical guidance, democracy, and power sharing.Other characteristics of ethical leaders include being revolutionary and having analytical insights. A revolutionary leader puts the values āāof the revolution at the forefront. With the insight and vision gained through his competencies, this leader can make the best decisions at the right time and properly guide employees and the organization as a leading person
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