Ultramicroscopy of structures involved in the posterior region of scales in two flathead fishes (Teleostei: Perciformes)

Morphology of structures involved in the posterior region of scales in two flathead fish species viz. Platycephalus indicus and Grammoplites suppositus was studied using ultramicroscopy. The fish individuals were divided into three size groups based on their standard lengths and their scales were removed from four body regions. The microscopic observations indicated that the scales of both species were ctenoid. The posterior margin of all scales was formed by two rows of ctenii. Typically, the shape of the posterior region of scales in P. indicus was crescent, while it was triangular in G. suppositus. The number of ctenii in the scales of P. indicus was minimum 12 and maximum 60, while in G. suppositus it was minimum 6 and maximum 38. Moreover, the results indicated that the number of ctenii was increased during fish development because the smaller fishes have fewer ctenii in their scales than the adults, while, their general morphology has not been changed properly. This developmental change was significantly higher in P. indicus than G. suppositus. The increase of ctenii during fish development allows greater flexibility in movement. In conclusion, modification in the ornamentations of the posterior region has a hydrodynamic function and they are subject to modification during the fish development. The ctenii varying considerably in the number and could be easily counted, therefore, could be used as an appropriate taxonomic character at least in flathead fishes or even other fish groups

AI-enabled exploration of Instagram profiles predicts soft skills and personality traits to empower hiring decisions

It does not matter whether it is a job interview with Tech Giants, Wall Street firms, or a small startup; all candidates want to demonstrate their best selves or even present themselves better than they really are. Meanwhile, recruiters want to know the candidates' authentic selves and detect soft skills that prove an expert candidate would be a great fit in any company. Recruiters worldwide usually struggle to find employees with the highest level of these skills. Digital footprints can assist recruiters in this process by providing candidates' unique set of online activities, while social media delivers one of the largest digital footprints to track people. In this study, for the first time, we show that a wide range of behavioral competencies consisting of 16 in-demand soft skills can be automatically predicted from Instagram profiles based on the following lists and other quantitative features using machine learning algorithms. We also provide predictions on Big Five personality traits. Models were built based on a sample of 400 Iranian volunteer users who answered an online questionnaire and provided their Instagram usernames which allowed us to crawl the public profiles. We applied several machine learning algorithms to the uniformed data. Deep learning models mostly outperformed by demonstrating 70% and 69% average Accuracy in two-level and three-level classifications respectively. Creating a large pool of people with the highest level of soft skills, and making more accurate evaluations of job candidates is possible with the application of AI on social media user-generated data

Effect of aromatherapy on anxiety and pain in patients undergoing cholecystectomy

Background and aims: Aromatherapy means application of concentrated essences from different types of plants (such as flowers) for treatment of different types of diseases. Aromatherapy works for stress, anxiety, psychosomatic problems, muscular and rheumatic pains, gastrointestinal problems, menopause and postpartum depression. The present study aimed to study the effect of aromatherapy on anxiety and pain in patients undergoing cholecystectomy. Methods: This is a single-blinded clinical trial study which was conducted with participation of 60 patients undergoing cholecystectomy in Sina Treatment Center, Tabriz, Iran in 2012-2013. The patients were randomly assigned using table of random numbers. In intervention group, the patients inhaled 10 drops of rose water with 12 concentration for three minutes 8 and 16 hours after surgery. For control group, routine care continued in the ward. The data were analyzed by SPSS using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey’s test). Results: Comparison of changes in pain and anxiety scores between the two group indicated that the developed changes in pain and anxiety level (mean relief of pain and anxiety 8 and 16 hours after surgery) in the aromatherapy group was significantly different from the control group (P<0.001) and the level of relief of pain and anxiety was higher in aromatherapy group than the control group 8 and 16 hours after surgery (P<0.001). Conclusion: The findings indicated the positive effect of rose water-mediated aromatherapy on relief of pain and anxiety in patients 8 and 16 hours after surgery. Aromatherapy could be used as a cheap, noninvasive, complication-free, and non-pharmacologic nursing care

Investigating the Mechanism of Arsenic-induced Ferroptosis in the Skin

Background: Ferroptosis, an oxidative and iron-dependent cell death, is a new type of regulated cell death. There are few studies on the mechanisms of ferroptosis in the skin and related diseases. Arsenic is shown to induce ferroptosis cell death. This study aimed to decipher the relationship between arsenic exposure and ferroptosis cell death in the skin. Methods: Arsenic-gene interactions were obtained. Then, skin-specific arsenic-gene interactions were screened. Ferroptosis-related genes were identified. Analysis of functional and biological interactions was performed to identify possible mechanisms. Results: The arsenic-gene interactions and the ferroptosis-related genes showed an overlap of 59 genes. Functional enrichment, protein-protein interaction, and transcription factor (TF)/miRNA target gene interaction analyses were used to look into the mechanism of arsenic-induced ferroptosis in the skin. ACTB, CTNNB1, HSPA8, SRC, RACK1, CD44, and SQSTM1 were identified as key proteins. Gene ontology analysis of these proteins indicated the mitochondrial morphology and functionality changes following arsenic-induced ferroptosis in the skin. HIF1A and SP1 TFs regulate a large number of genes compared to other TFs. Ten miRNAs with high interaction with ferroptosis-associated genes were identified. Conclusion: This work investigated the mechanism of arsenic-induced ferroptosis in the skin and identified key genes and regulators, and functional analysis highlighted the role of mitochondria in this skin exposure

Nanostructured Metal Oxide-Based Acetone Gas Sensors: A Review.

Acetone is a well-known volatile organic compound that is widely used in different industrial and domestic areas. However, it can have dangerous effects on human life and health. Thus, the realization of sensitive and selective sensors for recognition of acetone is highly important. Among different gas sensors, resistive gas sensors based on nanostructured metal oxide with high surface area, have been widely reported for successful detection of acetone gas, owing to their high sensitivity, fast dynamics, high stability, and low price. Herein, we discuss different aspects of metal oxide-based acetone gas sensors in pristine, composite, doped, and noble metal functionalized forms. Gas sensing mechanisms are also discussed. This review is an informative document for those who are working in the field of gas sensors

Urban Trees and Hydrological Ecosystem Service: A Novel Approach to Analyzing the Relationship Between Landscape Structure and Runoff Reduction

Urban stormwater runoff has posed significant challenges in the face of urbanization and climate change, emphasizing the importance of trees in providing runoff reduction ecosystem services (RRES). However, the sustainability of RRES can be disturbed by urban landscape modification. Understanding the impact of landscape structure on RRES is crucial to manage urban landscapes effectively to sustain supply of RRES. So, this study developed a new approach that analyzes the relationship between the landscape structural pattern and the RRES in Tabriz, Iran. The provision of RRES was estimated using the i-Tree Eco model. Landscape structure-related metrics of land use and cover (LULC) were derived using FRAGSTATS to quantify the landscape structure. Stepwise regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between landscape structure metrics and the provision of RRES. The results indicated that throughout the city, the trees prevented 196854.15 m3 of runoff annually. Regression models (p ≤ 0.05) suggested that the provision of RRES could be predicted using the measures of the related circumscribing circle metric (0.889 ≤ r2 ≤ 0.954) and the shape index (r2 = 0.983) of LULC patches. The findings also revealed that the regularity or regularity of the given LULC patches' shape could impact the patches' functions, which, in turn, affects the provision of RRES. The landscape metrics can serve as proxies to predict the capacity of trees for potential RRES using the obtained regression models. This helps to allocate suitable LULC through optimizing landscape metrics and management guidance to sustain RRES

Geospatial modeling to identify the effects of anthropogenic processes on landscape pattern change and biodiversity

This research used geospatial data to quantify biodiversity changes and landscape pattern change to track anthropogenic impacts of such changes at the Mouteh Wildlife Refuge (MWR), Isfahan, Iran. Satellite image duration of four decades, LandSat1-5, and IRS-P6 data were used to develop land cover classification maps for 1971, 1987, 1998, and 2011. The number and size of land cover patches, the degree of naturalness, and the diversity indices were calculated and compared for a 40-year period. The results showed an increasing concern with regard to unplanned human activities. Some improvements of the natural landscape also occurred in the core protected zone of the study area. The number and size of land cover patches, the degree of naturalness, and the diversity indices were calculated. Overall changes in natural land use between 1971 and 1998 at MWR showed that the number of patches for natural land use has increased, but it also showed a decrease in 2011. Similar changes were observed for seminatural land use. Within the artificial classes, the number and area of patches were higher and the largest patch occurred in 2011. The maximum variation of diversity is related to the year 2011. The results showed an increasing concern with regard to unplanned human activities. Some improvements of the natural landscape also occurred in the core protected zone of the study area. Remote sensing and geographic information system offers an important means of detecting and analyzing temporal changes occurring in our landscape

Streptozotocin induced oxidative stress, innate immune system responses and behavioral abnormalities in male mice

Recent evidence indicates the involvement of inflammatory factors and mitochondrial dysfunction in the etiology of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression. To investigate the possible role of mitochondrial-induced sterile inflammation in the co-occurrence of anxiety and depression, in this study, we treated adult male mice with the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion of a single low dose of streptozotocin (STZ, 0.2 mg/mouse). Using valid and qualified behavioral tests for the assessment of depressive and anxiety-like behaviors, we showed that STZ-treated mice exhibited behaviors relevant to anxiety and depression 24 h following STZ treatment. We observed that the co-occurrence of anxiety and depressive-like behaviors in animals were associated with abnormal mitochondrial function, nitric oxide overproduction and, the increased activity of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in the hippocampus. Further, STZ-treated mice had a significant upregulation of genes associated with the innate immune system such as toll-like receptors 2 and 4. Pathological evaluations showed no sign of neurodegeneration in the hippocampus of STZ-treated mice. Results of this study revealed that behavioral abnormalities provoked by STZ, as a cytotoxic agent that targets mitochondria and energy metabolism, are associated with abnormal mitochondrial activity and, consequently the initiation of innate-inflammatory responses in the hippocampus. Our findings highlight the role of mitochondria and innate immunity in the formation of sterile inflammation and behaviors relevant to anxiety and depression. Also, we have shown that STZ injection (i.c.v.) might be an animal model for depression and anxiety disorders based on sterile inflammation

Assessment, Management and investigation of the effects of climate change on drought in western cities of Iran

Drought is a hazardous phenomenon, as a result of climatic parameters abnormalities. The effects of high and low drought occur in different parts of the country, and its effects are more noticeable in arid and semi-arid regions. One of these areas is western Iran, which has been affected by this phenomenon in recent years. The purpose of this study is drought modelling and investigation in western Iran. To do this, climatic parameters were first used, including precipitation, temperature, sunshine, relative humidity and wind speed in 32 years (1987-2018) at 16 stations in western Iran. For modelling the TIBI fuzzy index, at first, four indices (SET, SPI, SEB, MCZI) were been fuzzy in Matlab software, then the indices were compared and finally, by Vikor multivariate decision-making model was used to prioritize areas affected by drought. The results of this study showed that the impact of rainfall on the drought intensity on the 12-months scale is weaker than the 6-months scale. In the six months, from May 1998 to August 2006, the trend was increasing and then followed the steady pattern, but on a 12-month scale, from August 1995 to December 2001, the trend was increasing and after this month it followed the mostly steady pattern. The highest frequency of drought at 6 and 12-month scale occurred in Ilam station and its lowest was in Sarpule-Zahab station. The T.I.B.I index accurately reflects the four indicators of SET, SPI, SEB and MCZI. Based on the modelling, T.I.B.I fuzzy index showed relative superiority to the SPEI fuzzy index. Finally, according to the Vikor multivariate decision-making method, the Ilam station with a score of 0.99 was more prone to drought occurrence