Revisiting the Core and Cover of Quality in Higher Education

Member states of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) have committed themselves to promote a program of action to improve and reform their educational institutions and curricula on the basis of the "OIC Vision 1441". As part of this commitment, a process has been initiated to review current international university ranking systems and to create a specific mechanism for ranking universities of the OIC countries. In this study, we explore the criteria that emerged as an outcome of this process and have been adopted for the purpose of ranking OIC universities. We raise the challenge that, although the idea of an OIC-specific ranking mechanism is a potentially valuable initiation for the Islamic countries to converge and cooperate, the whole endeavor tends to deal only with rudimentary issues in science, education, and research. The core conceptions, taken for granted and almost left untreated, continue to exist under the disguise of the newly fabricated criteria. For each one of the five major sets of criteria (Research, Education, International out-look, Facilities, and Socio-economic impact) we discuss why we believe they deal with the 'cover' rather than the 'core' of quality in higher education and research. We further discuss that truly alternative practices in the context of specific socio-cultural values, require revisiting underlying and taken for granted understandings of science, research, and technology. To walk our own way and to challenge the dominant mainstream global forces, we need a fundamentally alternative view of the quality and value of knowledge and basically of the value of the human being

Economic inequality in unmet refractive error need in deprived rural population of Iran

Purpose: To determine economic inequality in unmet refractive error (RE) need and its determinants in deprived rural population of Iran. Methods: In this population-based study, two villages were randomly selected from among underserved villages of Iran. After selecting the participants, optometric examinations, including uncorrected and corrected visual acuity and subjective and manifest refraction, were done for all the participants. Then, unmet need for glasses was determined. Concentration index (C) was used to assess inequality, and Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition method was applied to decompose the gap between the two groups based on the determinants. Results: Of 3851 samples, 3314 participated in the study (response rate = 86.05). The data of 3255 participants were used for analysis. The value of C and 95 confidence interval (CI) was-0.088 (-0.157 to-0.020), indicating a pro-poor inequality in unmet need. The prevalence (95 CI) of unmet need was 11.74 (9.25-14.22) in the poor and 6.51 (4.96-8.06) in the rich, with a gap of about 5 in favor of the rich (P < 0.001). A marked percentage of the gap was due to the explained portion (b = 5.73; P = 0.031). In the explained portion, the variable of economic status (b = 3.48; P = 0.004) and myopia (b = 0.88; P = 0.031) caused inequality in favor of the rich and against the poor, respectively. In the unexplained portion (b =-0.51; P = 0.372), the variables of education (P = 0.002) and place (P = 0.001) had statistically significant effects on inequality. Conclusions: There is a significant pro-poor economic inequality in the prevalence of unmet need in rural areas of Iran. Although part of this inequality is related to variables such as education and myopia, a major portion (two thirds) of this inequality may be due to the direct effect of economic inequality. © 2020 Journal of Current Ophthalmology | Published by Wolters Kluwer-Medknow

Demographic profile, clinical, and topographic characteristics of keratoconus patients attending at a tertiary eye center

Purpose: To evaluate the demographic profile, clinical, and topographic characteristics of keratoconus (KCN) patients attending at a subspecialty eye hospital in Tehran, Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all patients who attended Noor Eye Hospital between March 2011 and March 2017 and had a diagnosis of KCN were identified, and the required number of patients was randomly selected. The following data were extracted from patient's records: age, sex, visual acuity, refraction, keratometry, pachymetry, and treatment procedures. The data of KCN laterality, severity, morphology, and cone location were also extracted by analyzing the corneal imaging maps. Results: The records of 1080 eyes of 540 patients were evaluated. The mean age of the participants was 31.04 ± 8.54 years (range, 13�63 years), and 69.3 of the patients were male. The highest and lowest frequency of KCN was seen in the age group 20�30 years and above 50 years, respectively. Bilateral KCN was detected in 93.3 95% confidence interval (CI): 91.68�94.75 of the subjects. 43.7% (95%CI: 32.88�54.48), 55.6% (95%CI: 44.73�66.38), and 0.8% (95%CI: 0.75�0.78) of the cases had nipple, oval, and globus cones, respectively. The cone was central in 52.1% (95%CI: 41.10�63.11), paracentral in 43.6% (95%CI: 36.13�51.04), and peripheral in 4.3% (95%CI: 00.76�7.86) of the cases. The frequency percentage of KCN according to severity was 15.2% (95%CI: 13.09�17.46), 56.4% (95%CI: 53.37�59.37), and 28.4% (95%CI: 25.75�31.21) for mild, moderate, and severe KCN, respectively. Among different parameters, only cone location had a significant association with age as the frequency of paracentral and peripheral cones increased with ageing (P = 0.002). Conclusions: The mean age of KCN patients in our study was higher than similar studies in other Asian countries. KCN was bilateral in most cases with an oval morphology and central cone location. Most of the patients had moderate to severe KCN. © 2019 Iranian Society of Ophthalmolog

Accommodative insufficiency in a student population in Iran Insuficiencia acomodativa en una población estudiantil de Irán

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of accommodative insufficiency (AI) and its relation with age, gender, and refractive errors in a college-age student population in Iran. Methods: The present study was conducted cross-sectionally in 2017. All students had optometric tests including measurement of visual acuity, objective and subjective refraction, as well as binocular vision and accommodative examinations. Amplitude of accommodation was measured with the Donders� push-up method using the Royal Air Force (RAF) rule. Monocular accommodative facility was measured with ±2.00 diopter flipper lenses. The accommodative response was tested using dynamic retinoscopy with the monocular estimation method (MEM). Results: The prevalence of AI in the studied population was 4.07 (95 CI: 2.61�5.52). The rate was 6.04 (95 CI: 3.58�8.50) in females and 2.01 (95 CI: 0.53�3.48) in males, and logistic regression showed a significantly higher odds of AI in females (OR = 3.14, 95 CI: 1.33�7.45, p-value = 0.009). The prevalence of AI was 2.59 (95 CI: 0.55�7.56) in the 18�19-year-old age group and 4.08 (95 CI: 0.09�8.07) in the 24�25-year-old group (p-value = 0.848). The prevalence of AI among emmetropic, myopic, and hyperopic individuals was 3.74 (95 CI: 1.88�5.61), 4.44 (95 CI: 2.07�6.81), and 5.26 (95 CI: 4.79�16.32), respectively (p-value = 0.869). In the multiple regression model, only gender showed significant relationship with AI (Odds ratio = 3.14, 95 CI: 1.33�7.45; p-values = 0.009). Conclusion: The prevalence of AI in the present study is lower than the most prevalence rates reported in previous studies. In the present study, gender and AI showed a strong association, such that AI prevalence was significantly higher in females than males. © 2018 Spanish General Council of Optometr

Accommodative insufficiency in a student population in Iran Insuficiencia acomodativa en una población estudiantil de Irán

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of accommodative insufficiency (AI) and its relation with age, gender, and refractive errors in a college-age student population in Iran. Methods: The present study was conducted cross-sectionally in 2017. All students had optometric tests including measurement of visual acuity, objective and subjective refraction, as well as binocular vision and accommodative examinations. Amplitude of accommodation was measured with the Donders� push-up method using the Royal Air Force (RAF) rule. Monocular accommodative facility was measured with ±2.00 diopter flipper lenses. The accommodative response was tested using dynamic retinoscopy with the monocular estimation method (MEM). Results: The prevalence of AI in the studied population was 4.07 (95 CI: 2.61�5.52). The rate was 6.04 (95 CI: 3.58�8.50) in females and 2.01 (95 CI: 0.53�3.48) in males, and logistic regression showed a significantly higher odds of AI in females (OR = 3.14, 95 CI: 1.33�7.45, p-value = 0.009). The prevalence of AI was 2.59 (95 CI: 0.55�7.56) in the 18�19-year-old age group and 4.08 (95 CI: 0.09�8.07) in the 24�25-year-old group (p-value = 0.848). The prevalence of AI among emmetropic, myopic, and hyperopic individuals was 3.74 (95 CI: 1.88�5.61), 4.44 (95 CI: 2.07�6.81), and 5.26 (95 CI: 4.79�16.32), respectively (p-value = 0.869). In the multiple regression model, only gender showed significant relationship with AI (Odds ratio = 3.14, 95 CI: 1.33�7.45; p-values = 0.009). Conclusion: The prevalence of AI in the present study is lower than the most prevalence rates reported in previous studies. In the present study, gender and AI showed a strong association, such that AI prevalence was significantly higher in females than males. © 2018 Spanish General Council of Optometr

Accommodative insufficiency in a student population in Iran Insuficiencia acomodativa en una población estudiantil de Irán

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of accommodative insufficiency (AI) and its relation with age, gender, and refractive errors in a college-age student population in Iran. Methods: The present study was conducted cross-sectionally in 2017. All students had optometric tests including measurement of visual acuity, objective and subjective refraction, as well as binocular vision and accommodative examinations. Amplitude of accommodation was measured with the Donders� push-up method using the Royal Air Force (RAF) rule. Monocular accommodative facility was measured with ±2.00 diopter flipper lenses. The accommodative response was tested using dynamic retinoscopy with the monocular estimation method (MEM). Results: The prevalence of AI in the studied population was 4.07 (95 CI: 2.61�5.52). The rate was 6.04 (95 CI: 3.58�8.50) in females and 2.01 (95 CI: 0.53�3.48) in males, and logistic regression showed a significantly higher odds of AI in females (OR = 3.14, 95 CI: 1.33�7.45, p-value = 0.009). The prevalence of AI was 2.59 (95 CI: 0.55�7.56) in the 18�19-year-old age group and 4.08 (95 CI: 0.09�8.07) in the 24�25-year-old group (p-value = 0.848). The prevalence of AI among emmetropic, myopic, and hyperopic individuals was 3.74 (95 CI: 1.88�5.61), 4.44 (95 CI: 2.07�6.81), and 5.26 (95 CI: 4.79�16.32), respectively (p-value = 0.869). In the multiple regression model, only gender showed significant relationship with AI (Odds ratio = 3.14, 95 CI: 1.33�7.45; p-values = 0.009). Conclusion: The prevalence of AI in the present study is lower than the most prevalence rates reported in previous studies. In the present study, gender and AI showed a strong association, such that AI prevalence was significantly higher in females than males. © 2018 Spanish General Council of Optometr

The survey of diversity, distribution and abundance of phytoplankton in the southern part of the Caspian Sea

The Study of phytoplankton in the Caspian Sea was substantially started in the 1990s with the aim to produce and record data. phytoplankton study in this area became more important because of the occurance of some ecological events in recent years (such as bloom and arrival invader species). The study was seasonally conducted in western (Giulan province) to eastern coast (Golestan province) at 8 transects (Astra, Anzali, Sefidrud, Tonekabon, Nowshahr, Babolsar, Amirabad and Bandar Turkman) from inshore (5 m depth) to offshore (100 m). 476 samples were collected to study quantification and qualification of phytoplankton in 2009-2010. Results showed that 195 species of phytoplankton were identified in 8 phylums which were classified to Bacillariophyta (81 species), Pyrrophyta (33 species), Cyanophyta (28 species), Chlorophyta (38 species), Euglenophyt (11 species), Xantophyta (1 species), Chrysophyta (2 species) and Haptophyta (1 species). Abundance and biomass of phytoplankton were significantly different between euphotic layer (0 to 20m depths) and aphotic layer (50 to 100m depths) (p0.05). In spring, Bacillariophyta and Pyrrophyta with 40% and 29% of total abundance were dominant phylum at euphotic layer. In fall, Bacillariophyta (57% of total abundance) and Cyanophyta (28% of total abundance) were the first and second dominant phyla. While in summer and winter the predominant phyla was made by Cyanophyta (92% of total abundance) and Bacillariophyta (94% of total abundance) respectively. Species richness in western, central and eastern regions was 119, 141 and 147 respectively. Shannon index was 2.39 and 2.04 at euphotic layer and below photic layer, respectively. Shannon and evenness indices in eastern region was lower than western and central regions. Meanwhile, Shannon index in spring and autmn (2.50 and 2.39) was higher than summer and winter (0.21 and 0.36). In photic layer, dominant species were Stephanodiscus hantzschii Chrysochromulina sp. and Exuviaella cordata in spring. While Oscillatoria sp. was the predominant species in summer. In fall, dominant species contained Thalassionema nitzschioides and Oscillatoria sp. Finally, Pseudonitzschia seriata and Cerataulina pelagica made the most abundance species in winter. The dominant species in the below phoyic layer was very similar to photic layer. The mean abundance of Pseudonitzschia seriata , Oscillatoria sp. and Dactyliosolen fragilissima was higher than other species in all regions of study area (west, middle and east). Seasonal succession of dominant species were under the influence of natural factors such as sunlight, heat, river currents, wind and vertical mixing of water. However it seems that the invasion of ctenophore into Caspian Sea (with change in nutrient levels and decline of phytoplankton predator) and also human activities (i.e. water balance of ships and discharge of sewage) are severely impact on seasonal dominant species, pattern of species composition and relative abundance of species. These changes mainly accompany with appearance of new and harmful species (with the ability of severe proliferation) and displacement of native and dwell species

The cancer preventative agent resveratrol is converted to the anticancer agent piceatannol by the cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP1B1

Resveratrol is a cancer preventative agent that is found in red wine. Piceatannol is a closely related stilbene that has antileukaemic activity and is also a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Piceatannol differs from resveratrol by having an additional aromatic hydroxy group. The enzyme CYP1B1 is overexpressed in a wide variety of human tumours and catalyses aromatic hydroxylation reactions. We report here that the cancer preventative agent resveratrol undergoes metabolism by the cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP1B1 to give a metabolite which has been identified as the known antileukaemic agent piceatannol. The metabolite was identified by high performance liquid chromatography analysis using fluorescence detection and the identity of the metabolite was further confirmed by derivatisation followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry studies using authentic piceatannol for comparison. This observation provides a novel explanation for the cancer preventative properties of resveratrol. It demonstrates that a natural dietary cancer preventative agent can be converted to a compound with known anticancer activity by an enzyme that is found in human tumours. Importantly this result gives insight into the functional role of CYP1B1 and provides evidence for the concept that CYP1B1 in tumours may be functioning as a growth suppressor enzyme

Carcinogenic Effects in a Phenylketonuria Mouse Model

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a metabolic disorder caused by impaired phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). This condition results in hyperphenylalaninemia and elevated levels of abnormal phenylalanine metabolites, among which is phenylacetic acid/phenylacetate (PA). In recent years, PA and its analogs were found to have anticancer activity against a variety of malignancies suggesting the possibility that PKU may offer protection against cancer through chronically elevated levels of PA. We tested this hypothesis in a genetic mouse model of PKU (PAHenu2) which has a biochemical profile that closely resembles that of human PKU. Plasma levels of phenylalanine in homozygous (HMZ) PAHenu2 mice were >12-fold those of heterozygous (HTZ) littermates while tyrosine levels were reduced. Phenylketones, including PA, were also markedly elevated to the range seen in the human disease. Mice were subjected to 7,12 dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) carcinogenesis, a model which is sensitive to the anticancer effects of the PA derivative 4-chlorophenylacetate (4-CPA). Tumor induction by DMBA was not significantly different between the HTZ and HMZ mice, either in total tumor development or in the type of cancers that arose. HMZ mice were then treated with 4-CPA as positive controls for the anticancer effects of PA and to evaluate its possible effects on phenylalanine metabolism in PKU mice. 4-CPA had no effect on the plasma concentrations of phenylalanine, phenylketones, or tyrosine. Surprisingly, the HMZ mice treated with 4-CPA developed an unexplained neuromuscular syndrome which precluded its use in these animals as an anticancer agent. Together, these studies support the use of PAHenu2 mice as a model for studying human PKU. Chronically elevated levels of PA in the PAHenu2 mice were not protective against cancer