Clomiphene citrate impairs the endometrial CD98 expression in ovariectomized and non-ovariectomized rats: Role of HCG

Background: Clomiphene citrate (CC) is one of the widely used drugs as an ovulation stimulant, but its adverse effects on the endometrium results in lowering down the pregnancy rate. Endometrium CD98 is also important in the process of implantation. Objective: To evaluate the immunohistochemistry expression levels of endometrial CD98 following injection of CC with and without Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in ovariectomized and non-ovariectomized rats. Materials and Methods: Seventy two (12-14 wk old) female Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups (n = 36): (a) ovariectomized and (b) non-ovariectomized. Each group was further divided into six subgroups (n = 6/each): (1) CC 10 mg/kg, (2) CC 20 mg/kg, (3) HCG, (4) CC 10 mg/kg with HCG, (5) CC 20 mg/kg with HCG, and (6) control. The experimental subgroups received a single dose of CC (daily, five days) and HCG (after the last injection of CC) alone or in combination. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed on paraffin-embedded endometrial tissues to evaluate the expression levels of CD98. Result: Animals undergoing ovariectomy presented a significantly lower expression level of endometrial CD98 (p < 0.001) when compared with non-ovariectomized in the same condition that groups were subdivided. There was also a dose-dependent reduction (p < 0.001) in the expression of CD98 in non-ovariectomized subgroups when compared with control group. In addition, injection of HCG following treatment with CC improved its expression. Conclusion: It was concluded that CC impairs CD98 expression in endometrium and this impairment is intensified with the removal of the ovary. Also, an injection of HCG following treatment with CC can slightly improve the expression of CD98

Feasibility of Establishing Descriptive Evaluation and its Benefits in Secondary Schools of Iran

Abstract. The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of establishing descriptive evaluation and its use in secondary school from the perspective of secondary school’s teachers in Hamadan. Basically, in order to evaluate the achievement of students in schools, used two methods of quantitative evaluation and descriptive evaluation. The quantitative evaluation follows the principles of classical psychology and behaviorism, while the descriptive evaluation follows the principles of constructivist psychology. The method of this research is descriptive and survey type. The statistical population includes all 577 secondary school teachers in Hamadan, of which 234 were selected by stratified random sampling method. In order to assess the feasibility, five components were considered includes human, structural, technological, temporal, and financial. A researcher-made questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale was used to collect information. The validity of tool was confirmed by experts and its reliability was obtained through Cronbach's alpha of 83%.  In order to analyze information were used descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that in structural component, the studied fields are not provided (submitted circulars, content of books, application of plan in all courses and foundations).  In the technological component, there are no hardware and software facilities in secondary schools to implement this plan. In the time component of school year, daily school time and time in classroom are not commensurate with descriptive evaluation plan. The financial component does not provide sufficient budget for implementation of plan. In the human component, education teachers lack of interest and ability to implement this plan

Factors impacting social media users' information behavior: The concept of social noise

Social media communication involves the discussion and sharing of information in an environment subject to the influence of online relationships and perceived expectations of those in the social network. The ability to filter the resulting noise depends largely on our understanding of Social Noise and its underlying constructs. We introduce the concept of Social Noise and investigate methods of identifying it using a quantitative, data analytics approach. Understanding this phenomenon has taken on increasing importance as it can influence attitudes and behavior surrounding social issues, political campaigns, and other core areas of society. Results from the topic modeling and data clustering techniques represent part of ongoing research into Social Noise and general keywords and combinations of keywords related to its underlying constructs

Effect of the two methods, massage and physical exercise, selected in water on spine flexibility, pain and disability among non-active elderly women in Dezful

Background and aims: With increasing age, we observe a decrease in muscle strength and endurance, range of joint motion and flexibility of body tissues, which in turn these factors may cause muscle pain and chronic low back pain in these individuals. So, continuing this cycle will lead to atrophy and decrease of muscle strength. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of two methods for massage and physical exercise selected in water on spine flexibility, pain and disability among non-active elderly women in Dezful. Methods: In this semi- experimental study, a total of 45 inactive elderly women were selected according to the inclusion criteria in the research and awareness of the stages of implementation. were assigned homogeneously in three groups, 15 women in each group. The range of back flexibility, pain intensity, the inability of all subjects was evaluated before and after the implementation of the exercise protocol. Then, the experimental group exercised six weeks (Massage group: four 15-minute sessions per week, group activator in the water: three one-hour sessions per week). Differences between pretest and posttest groups was determined using independent t-test and changes between the study groups was compared using analysis of covariance test. Results: Statistical analysis results showed there is a significant difference in the massage group and training group after the exercise protocol, in the flexibility, pain intensity and the inability, but it was not observed no significant difference in the control group. Also, in comparison between groups, the results showed that training method in water was more effective on the variables of pain intensity and the disability, but any difference was not observed between training methods on pain intensity of subjects, and two training methods had an equal effect on pain intensity of elderly women. Conclusion: It seems using massage and active exercises in the water, can cause further improvement in performance in elderly wome

Simultaneous preconcentration of lead and cadmium ions with methyltrioctylammonium chloride supported on microcrystalline naphthalene and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A sensitive and selective preconcentration method has been developed for the determination of trace amounts of lead and cadmium ions by using naphthalene-methyltrioctylammonium chloride as an adsorbent. Lead and cadmium ions were retained by the adsorbent in the minicolumn as PbI42- and CdI42-, respectively. The column was washed by 5 mL of 2 mol L-1 nitric acid solution to elute the adsorbed cations. The collected eluents then were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Potential factors affecting on the recovery of the analytes were investigated. Meanwhile optimum conditions were established. The preconcentration factor for lead (II) and cadmium (II) have been 300 and 100, respectively. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 3 to 100 ng mL-1 for Pb2+ and in the range of 1 to 100 ng mL-1 for Cd2+, in the original water samples. The detection limits for Pb2+ and Cd2+ are 0.42 and 0.072 ng mL-1 respectively. On the other hand, the relative standard deviation (RSD) for 11 replicate measurements of 20 ng mL-1 Pb2+ and Cd2+ were 2.2% and 1.4% in the initial solution respectively (n=11). The developed method was successfully applied for the determination of trace Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions in a variety of water samples

Crisis Management in the Persepolis World Heritage Complex (A Case Study about Drought)

This study tries to present a crisis management plan for the Persepolis World Heritage Site (a case study about drought). The study and data collection procedure is conducted mainly by descriptive and analytical methods. The study population includes the experts of historical places in Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Department, Geology Department, and Regional Water Department of Fars, among whom 62 people were chosen by using Cochran sampling formula. Their liability for the case study variable of drought was confirmed to be 83 percent, using Cronbach alpha. In this study, the internal and external factors of weaknesses, strengths, threats, and opportunities in this important World Heritage Site were investigated using SPSS software and SWOT method. In this way, drawing a matrix (SWOT) and implementing related strategic analysis, a strategy table including WO, ST, SO, WT has been provided regarding proactive protection. As the next step, putting collective wisdom and consensus of experts and managers of the department were proposed to optimize the designed strategies, to prioritize these strategies, and finally to choose the most suitable one for the aforementioned site

Maternal aerobic running during mid or late gestation improves the quality of oogenesis and folliculogenesis in the ovary of neonatal rats: An experimental study

Background: Regular maternal exercise in pregnancy enhances the physiological, metabolic, and psychological health of mother and fetus. Objective: To determine the effect of maternal aerobic running during mid or late gestation on plasma levels of estrogen and progesterone and the histological alterations in the ovary of neonatal rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one female Wistar rats were randomly divided into experimental groups to exercises during the 2nd or 3rd wk of pregnancy (n = 14) and a control group (n = 7). After birth, the neonate’s blood was obtained and the estrogen and progesterone levels were evaluated. The ovaries were then removed and used for histological investigations and apoptic assessment. Results: Higher concentrations of estrogen and progesterone were found in the neonates of the experimental groups (p = 0.001) compared to the control group. The experimental groups had a large ovarian diameter (2nd wk: p = 0.044; 3rd wk: p = 0.005) and angiogenesis (2nd wk: p = 0.003; 3rd wk: p = 0.001). In addition, significant enhancements were seen in the the experimental groups in terms of the number (2nd wk: p = 0.017; p = 0.035) and diameter (2nd wk: p = 0.046; 3rd wk: p = 0.004) of primordial follicles, as well as in the diameter of primary oocytes (2nd wk: p = 0.073; 3rd wk: p = 0.019) compared to the control group. Moreover, rats that exercised had a lower number of apoptotic primordial follicles than the control group (2nd wk: p = 0.001; 3rd wk: p = 0.001). Conclusion: It was shown that maternal aerobic running can lead to increased plasma levels of estrogen and progesterone, also improved histological characteristics of the ovary in neonatal rats. Key words: Apoptosis, Exercise, Neonatal, Oogenesis, Ovary, Rat