Training and Employment of People with Disabilities: Iran 2003

[Excerpt] This report is descriptive in nature. When the ILO commissioned the researchers for the Country Study Series, each was asked to follow the comprehensive research protocol appended to this document. The resulting report therefore includes country background information, statistics about people with disabilities and their organizations, a description of relevant legislation and policies and their official implementing structures, as well as the education, training and employment options available to people with disabilities. While few countries have such information readily available, researchers were asked to note the existence or lack of specific data points and to report data when it did exist. Since the lack of information about people with disabilities contributes to their invisibility and social exclusion, the information itself is important. The protocol called for limited analysis and did not specifically ask for the researchers recommendations, however, researchers were asked to report on existing plans and recommendations of significant national stakeholders

The Effects of Self-esteem, Self-objectification, and Appearance Schemas on Clothing Choice Style: Examining the Structural Model

The purpose of this study was to examine the structural model of the effects of self-esteem and appearance schemas on clothing choice style. The study was an applied and predictive research. The population included all students studying at Sepahanshahr universities in 2019-2020 academic year, from which 192 female students were selected using the convenient sampling method. The scales for assessment used in the study were Functions of Clothing (FC), Self-Esteem (SE), Appearance Schemas Inventory (ASI), Self-Objectification Beliefs, and Behaviors Scale (SOBBS), in addition to the demographic questionnaire. The results showed that self-esteem and appearance schemas affected clothing functions including “individuality”, “security”, and “mode” positively, and “camouflage” negatively. Self-esteem had the greatest impact on the function of "mode" and also predicted self-objectification ("body as self") negatively. Self-objectification ("the body as self") also indirectly (with the mediating role of the "self-evaluation schema") predicted all the functions of clothing (i.e., individuality, security, and mode) positively except for camouflage which was predicted negatively. Self-objectification ("body as self") and appearance schemas (self-evaluation) seem to play a mediating role in the relationship between self-esteem and functions of clothing. It is concluded that self-esteem and various aspects of body image (self-objectification and appearance schemas) influence the clothing choice style

Elimination of Omega-1,2 Gliadins From Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Flour: Effects on Immunogenic Potential and End-Use Quality

The omega-1,2 gliadins are a group of wheat gluten proteins that contain immunodominant epitopes for celiac disease (CD) and also have been associated with food allergies. To reduce the levels of these proteins in the flour, bread wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Butte 86) was genetically transformed with an RNA interference plasmid that targeted a 141 bp region at the 5′ end of an omega-1,2 gliadin gene. Flour proteins from two transgenic lines were analyzed in detail by quantitative two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and tandem mass spectrometry. In one line, the omega-1,2 gliadins were missing with few other changes in the proteome. In the other line, striking changes in the proteome were observed and nearly all gliadins and low molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS) were absent. High molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) increased in this line and those that showed the largest increases had molecular weights slightly less than those in the non-transgenic, possibly due to post-translational processing. In addition, there were increases in non-gluten proteins such as triticins, purinins, globulins, serpins, and alpha-amylase/protease inhibitors. Reactivity of flour proteins with serum IgG and IgA antibodies from a cohort of CD patients was reduced significantly in both transgenic lines. Both mixing time and tolerance were improved in the line without omega-1,2 gliadins while mixing properties were diminished in the line missing most gluten proteins. The data suggest that biotechnology approaches may be used to create wheat lines with reduced immunogenic potential in the context of gluten sensitivity without compromising end-use quality

Quest for authenticity in reinvention of historic houses in urban areas

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A relatively large number of historic (traditional and old) houses have been restored in Iranian cities in the recent period. Of increasing demand in the era of the experience economy, many are used as cafes, restaurants, galleries, ecolodges, etc. Cultural heritage and urban policies have further provided a general framework and some incentives for the restoration and reuse of these houses. Leveraging a tourism development framework, this paper investigated how authenticity could be achieved in practice in the restoration and reinvention of historic houses.METHODS: A flexible policy research approach was employed to probe the current framework governing the restoration of historic houses. Another part of the analysis was based on a set of semi-structured interviews and field observations targeting restored historic houses in the city of Shiraz. Specifically, interviews were conducted with owners/operators of the most significant category of reused old houses—those turned into ecolodges—along with visitors.FINDINGS: Based on the fieldwork results, five general recommendations were provided for owners/operators of restored historic houses/ecolodges toward realizing authenticity: there is a need for pre-planning and employment of adequate knowledge and knowhow to provide authentic experiences to visitors; objective elements should leverage creativity, balance tradition and modernity, and give the establishment its own personality; subjective elements should be reflective of local culture, history, and hospitality; a major aim is to have tourists emotionally engaged with the place and easily interact with people, places, and things; and allowing for co-creation could instill an enduring sense of belonging into visitors.CONCLUSION: Notwithstanding recommendations for owners/operators of restored historic houses, tourism and urban authorities must focus on the creation of a policy framework that encourages the delivery and management of authenticity. Adopting a stronger socio-cultural approach should help to achieve additional regeneration objectives of local economic development through increased interaction among public-sector agencies, non-governmental institutions, local populations (property-owners or tenants), and investors

Surgical Technique for Femoral Intramedullary Bent Nail Removal: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

A 21-year-old male patient was admitted with a severe right thigh deformity following a car accident. He experienced a previous history of Intramedullary interlocking femoral nail three years ago.The neurovascular examination was normal. The radiologic evaluation revealed a bent nail with 105° angular deformity in the sagittal plane.With a lateral approach to the apex of the fracture site, the Bent nail was cut by an 8mm cobalt drill, two parts of nail extracted; then fixation was performed by a new intramedullary interlocking nail and autogenous cancellous graft.The fracture healed properly without any complication 6 months after corrective surgery

Oxidative status, immune response and growth performance of broiler chickens treated with different multi-strain probiotics

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different sources of probiotics (based on Lactic acid bacteria or Bacillus strains) on growth performance, antioxidant status and immunity. Therefore, two hundred eighty-eight 1-d-old male Ross broiler chicks were allocated to three experimental groups for 35 days. The dietary treatments included: basal diet-unsupplemented (C), supplemented with lactic acid bacteria (LABP), and/or Bacillus strains-based probiotics (BP). LABP led to reduced feed intake, while both LABP and BP improved the feed conversion rate as compared to the control group on day 7 (P < 0.05). BP increased serum total protein level compared to the control group at the end of the experiment (P < 0.05). However, supplementation with probiotics did not affect the relative weight of carcass components, immune organs, malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species levels and the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio. These findings suggest similar efficacy and potency between probiotics based on Bacillus strains-based and lactic acid bacteria-based probiotics in enhancing early-life growth performance and increasing blood total protein. However, there is insufficient evidence to support an improvement in antioxidant status or modulation of the immune system through the addition of LABP or BP

Celiac disease as a potential cause of idiopathic portal hypertension: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Idiopathic portal hypertension is a disorder of unknown etiology, clinically characterized by portal hypertension, splenomegaly and anemia secondary to hypersplenism.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 54-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of malaise, weight loss, abdominal swelling and lower limb edema. His paraclinical tests revealed pancytopenia, large ascites, splenomegaly and esophageal varices consistent with portal hypertension. Duodenal biopsy and serologic findings were compatible with celiac disease. His symptoms improved on a gluten-free diet, but his clinical course was further complicated with ulcerative jejunoileitis, and intestinal T-cell lymphoma.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It seems that celiac disease, by an increased immune reaction in the splenoportal axis, can result in the development of idiopathic portal hypertension in susceptible affected patients.</p

The Overlapping Area of Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) and Wheat-Sensitive Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): An Update

Gluten-related disorders have recently been reclassified with an emerging scientific literature supporting the concept of non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). New research has specifically addressed prevalence, immune mechanisms, the recognition of non-immunoglobulin E (non-IgE) wheat allergy and overlap of NCGS with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-type symptoms. This review article will provide clinicians with an update that directly impacts on the management of a subgroup of their IBS patients whose symptoms are triggered by wheat ingestion

Increased Circulating T Cell Reactivity to GM1 Ganglioside in Patients with Guillain-Barre Syndrome

This study was performed to determine whether increased ganglioside-specific T cell reactivity can be detected in the peripheral blood of patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). T cell responsiveness to the gangliosides GM1, GM3, GD1a, GD1b, GD3, GT1b, GQ1b and sulphatide was assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from untreated GBS patients (57), CIDP patients (43), patients with other peripheral neuropathies (55) and healthy control subjects (74) in a standard 6-day proliferation assay. Increased T cell reactivity to GM1 occurred in GBS patients compared to healthy controls and patients with other neuropathies. There was increased reactivity to GM3 in GBS patients compared to patients with other neuropathies but not compared to healthy controls. The frequencies of increased T cell reactivity to GM1 and GM3 in CIDP patients were intermediate between those of GBS patients and controls. We suggest that T cell reactivity to gangliosides might play a contributory role in the pathogenesis of GBS and perhaps CIDP