The Investigation of Cultural Factors Affecting the Sustainable Development in Yazd, Iran

Culture is the main factor and is regarded as the engine of sustainable development that without considering it, development programs would not be successful. Cultural factors play a vital role in sustainable development and sustainable development planning should be based on different cultures. Yazd in many years had considerable share in the field of cultural and religious in the country. But a glance at the current situation of the city that perhaps the cultural climate of the city has been neglected, the continuation of historical role and identity of the city, as well as improvement the lives of residents of the city without understanding the cultural factors affecting sustainable development does not seem possible. In the cultural issues, there are various indices that affect on development. In this paper, combining some of the models include the development of culture and the experiences of other countries and division of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution, four basic indicators with the sub- indicators for each indicator have been specified. Given the descriptive nature of the investigation, in order to collect required data and test questions the questionnaire has been used. The first part of questionnaire consisted of demographic questions. Other questions have been considered to measure the components and based on assumptions of the study. Questionnaires were distributed on the basis of statistical sampling in Yazd city. The research method is descriptive survey. The study population in our research included Yazd citizens over 18 years old with a history of more than two years residency in the city of Yazd. Based on the results of the questionnaires, the hypothesis of effectiveness of two indicators of identity and social order was accepted and effectiveness of the two indicators of involvement and cultural engagement and social capital was not approved. In the end, some strategies of urban management approach to effectiveness of affective cultural factors on sustainable development have been provided

Network centrality and portfolio optimization using the genetic algorithm

This study aims to optimize the portfolio using the genetic operator and network centralization. The statistical population of the study is the top 50 companies of Tehran Stock Exchange, in the first quarter of 2021, and to calculate the size of centrality, we used the difference in the overall performance of each company compared to all the top companies, based on a standard hybridization indicator. Then based on the companies’ performance in the capital market, the geometric mean of risk and return of efficient companies are determined, and given the real limitations of the budget, the requirements and expectations of the investors compared to the market’s performance and the risk-free investment, the problem of decision-making for the composition of the investment in the form of a multi-purpose paradigm is formulated. By using the modified optimization algorithm and the genetic algorithm with dual operators, we optimized the investment’s composition. Finally, we use the compound linear regression with data analysis approach to evaluate the effect of individual and systemic operators on determining the investment strategy, and the results represented the positive effect of these two operators

Comparison between the cultures of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) on feeder- and serum-free system (Matrigel matrix), MEF and HDF feeder cell lines

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are a type of pluripotent stem cells artificially derived from an adult somatic cell (typically human fibroblast) by forced expression of specific genes. In recent years, different feeders like inactivated mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), and feeder free system have commonly been used for supporting the culture of stem cells in undifferentiated state. In the present work, the culture of hiPSCs and their characterizations on BD Matrigel (feeder- and serum-free system), MEF and HDF feeders using cell culture methods and molecular techniques were evaluated and compared. The isolated HDFs from foreskin samples were reprogrammed to hiPSCs using gene delivery system. Then, the pluripotency ability of hiPSCs cultured on each layer was determined by teratoma formation and immunohistochemical staining. After EBs generation the expression level of three germ layers genes were evaluated by Q-real-time PCR. Also, the cytogenetic stability of hiPSCs cultured on each condition was analyzed by karyotyping and comet assay. Then, the presence of pluripotency antigens were confirmed by Immunocytochemistry (ICC) test and alkaline phosphatase staining. This study were showed culturing of hiPSCs on BD Matrigel, MEF and HDF feeders had normal morphology and could maintain in undifferentiated state for prolonged expansion. The hiPSCs cultured in each system had normal karyotype without any chromosomal abnormalities and the DNA lesions were not observed by comet assay. Moreover, upregulation in three germ layers genes in cultured hiPSCs on each layer (same to ESCs) compare to normal HDFs were observed (p<0.05). The findings of the present work were showed in stem cells culturing especially hiPSCs both MEF and HDF feeders as well as feeder free system like Matrigel are proper despite benefits and disadvantages. Although, MEFs is suitable for supporting of stem cell culturing but it can animal pathogens transferring and inducing immune response. Furthermore, HDFs have homologous source with hiPSCs and can be used as feeder instead of MEF but in therapeutic approaches the cells contamination is a problem. So, this study were suggested feeder free culturing of hiPSCs on Matrigel in supplemented media (without using MEF conditioned medium) resolves these problems and could prepare easy applications of hiPSCs in therapeutic approaches of regenerative medicine such as stem-cell therapy and somatic cell nuclear in further researches

Analysis of Methylation and Expression Profile of Foxp3 Gene in Patients with Behçet’s Syndrome

Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) gene is an important means in the Treg cells function, in both maintenances of immune tolerance and regulation of response. Epigenetic modifications of the foxp3 gene at its regulatory regions control the chromatin accessibility for the transcription factors and other transcriptional regulators in order to control Foxp3 expression. In addition, the methylation status of CpG islands within the Foxp3 promoter and regulatory elements regulate the expression of Foxp3. This study was performed to assess the role of the foxp3 gene in patients with Behçet’s syndrome (BS). Venous blood samples were collected from all participants and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were extracted through Ficoll-Hypaque method. Genomic DNA was randomly sheared by sonication and immunoprecipitated with a monoclonal antibody. The status methylation of the foxp3 gene was estimated in 108 blood samples of active BS patients and healthy individuals (controls); using methylation DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) technique. Expression analysis was carried out; using Real-time PCR. The expression of foxp3 gene in the patients' group (mean±SD: 1.79±1.12) was significantly lower than the healthy group (mean±SD: 2.73±1.33) (p<001). Also, the methylation levels of Foxp3 promoter showed that its level in patients (mean±SD: 2.3±1.16) was higher than the healthy group (mean±SD: 1.85±0.59). However, this increase was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Also, these results indicated that increasing the amount of methylation of the foxp3 gene by reducing its expression leads to an increase and intensifying of the disease. The decrease in Foxp3 expression is possibly associated with hypermethylation of the gene, and it can be considered as a risk factor for BS. Future studies may be needed to identify the capability of specific DNA methylation alterations in this syndrome

Relationship Between Spiritual Health and Job Performance Among Pharmacy Personnel in Qom, Iran

Background and Objectives: Spiritual health has a positive effect on the way of interaction, organizational belonging, and job commitment of people. Therefore, it is expected that in sensitive jobs, such as pharmacy and prescribing medicine for patients, errors will be reduced and patient safety will be improved. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between spiritual health and job performance among pharmacists and pharmacy staff in Qom Province in 2017-2018. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on a total of 140 staff of pharmacies in Qom. The performance measurement tool was Paterson’s occupational performance questionnaire. Along with demographic information, the state of spiritual health was also evaluated using an authentic Iranian questionnaire. The data were analyzed using an independent t-test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: The mean age and work experience of the participants were 31.05±8.3 and 7.94±7.4 years, respectively. The total score of occupational performance and spiritual health was obtained as 70±10 and 211.9±23.6, respectively. The results of the Pearson correlation coefficient showed a statistically significant relationship between spiritual health and job performance (P<0.01). Conclusion: Considering the existence of a relationship between the spiritual health of personnel and job performance, it can be concluded that by improving the level of the spiritual health of the personnel working in the pharmacy, the effectiveness factors of organizational behavior will improve. It is recommended that more research be done in the field of job performance improvement

Hierarchical cluster analysis to identify the homogeneous desertification management units.

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

Study of Denoising in TEOAE Signals Using an Appropriate Mother Wavelet Function

Background and Aim: Matching a mother wavelet to class of signals can be of interest in signal analy­sis and denoising based on wavelet multiresolution analysis and decomposition. As transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAES) are contaminated with noise, the aim of this work was to pro­vide a quantitative approach to the problem of matching a mother wavelet to TEOAE signals by us­ing tun­ing curves and to use it for analysis and denoising TEOAE signals. Approximated mother wave­let for TEOAE signals was calculated using an algorithm for designing wavelet to match a specified sig­nal.Materials and Methods: In this paper a tuning curve has used as a template for designing a mother wave­let that has maximum matching to the tuning curve. The mother wavelet matching was performed on tuning curves spectrum magnitude and phase independent of one another. The scaling function was calcu­lated from the matched mother wavelet and by using these functions, lowpass and highpass filters were designed for a filter bank and otoacoustic emissions signal analysis and synthesis. After signal analyz­ing, denoising was performed by time windowing the signal time-frequency component.Results: Aanalysis indicated more signal reconstruction improvement in comparison with coiflets mother wavelet and by using the purposed denoising algorithm it is possible to enhance signal to noise ra­tio up to dB.Conclusion: The wavelet generated from this algorithm was remarkably similar to the biorthogonal wave­lets. Therefore, by matching a biorthogonal wavelet to the tuning curve and using wavelet packet analy­sis, a high resolution time-frequency analysis for the otoacoustic emission signals is possible

Development of Porous Polyacrylonitrile Composite Fibers: New Precursor Fibers with High Thermal Stability

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers with unique properties are becoming increasingly important as precursors for the fabrication of carbon fibers. Here, we suggest the preparation of porous PAN composite fibers to increase the homogeneity and thermal stability of the fibers. Based on the thermodynamics of polymer solutions, the ternary phase diagram of the PAN/H2O/Dimethylformamide (DMF) system has been modeled to introduce porosity in the fibers. Adding a conscious amount of water (4.1 wt.%) as a non-solvent to the PAN solution containing 1 wt.% of graphene oxide (GO), followed by wet spinning, has led to the preparation of porous composite fibers with high thermal stability and unique physicochemical properties. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results elucidate that PAN/GO/H2O porous composite fibers have a higher thermal decomposition temperature, increased residual weight, reduced heat release rate, and higher crystallinity in comparison with the pristine PAN fibers, being a promising precursor for the development of high-performance carbon fibers. The results show a promising application window of the synthesized PAN fibers in electronic and electrochemical devices

Development of Porous Polyacrylonitrile Composite Fibers: New Precursor Fibers with High Thermal Stability

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers with unique properties are becoming increasingly important as precursors for the fabrication of carbon fibers. Here, we suggest the preparation of porous PAN composite fibers to increase the homogeneity and thermal stability of the fibers. Based on the thermodynamics of polymer solutions, the ternary phase diagram of the PAN/H2O/Dimethylformamide (DMF) system has been modeled to introduce porosity in the fibers. Adding a conscious amount of water (4.1 wt.%) as a non-solvent to the PAN solution containing 1 wt.% of graphene oxide (GO), followed by wet spinning, has led to the preparation of porous composite fibers with high thermal stability and unique physicochemical properties. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results elucidate that PAN/GO/H2O porous composite fibers have a higher thermal decomposition temperature, increased residual weight, reduced heat release rate, and higher crystallinity in comparison with the pristine PAN fibers, being a promising precursor for the development of high-performance carbon fibers. The results show a promising application window of the synthesized PAN fibers in electronic and electrochemical devices