Health inequalities and development plans in Iran: An analysis of the past three decades (1984–2010)

Introduction: Reducing inequalities in health care is one of the main challenges in all countries. In Iran as in other oil-exporting upper middle income countries, we expected to witness fewer inequalities especially in the health sector with the increase in governmental revenues. Methods: This study presents an inequalities assessment of health care expenditures in Iran. We used data from the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) in Iran from 1984–2010. The analysis included 308,735 urban and 342,532 rural households. Results: The results suggest heightened inequality in health care expenditures in Iran over the past three decades, including an increase in the gap between urban and rural areas. Furthermore, inflation has affected the poor more than the rich. The Kakwani progressivity index in all years is positive, averaging 0.436 in rural and 0.470 in urban areas during the time period of analysis. Compared to inequality in income distribution over the last 30 years, health expenditures continuously show more inequality and progressivity over the same period of time. Conclusions: According to the result of our study, during this period Iran introduced four National Development Plans (NDPs); however, the NDPs failed to provide sustainable strategies for reducing inequalities in health care expenditures. Policies that protect vulnerable groups should be prioritized

Probing the Light Pseudoscalar Window

Very light pseudoscalars can arise from the symmetry-breaking sector in many extensions of the Standard Model. If their mass is below 200 MeV, they can be long-lived and have interesting phenomenology. We discuss the experimental constraints on several models with light pseudoscalars, including one in which the pseudoscalar is naturally fermiophobic. Taking into account the stringent bounds from rare K and B decays, we find allowed parameter space in each model that may be accessible in direct production experiments. In particular, we study the photoproduction of light pseudoscalars at Jefferson Lab and conclude that a beam dump experiment could explore some of the allowed parameter space of these models.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figure

Critical-Current Reduction in Thin Superconducting Wires Due to Current Crowding

We demonstrate experimentally that the critical current in superconducting NbTiN wires is dependent on their geometrical shape, due to current-crowding effects. Geometric patterns such as 90 degree corners and sudden expansions of wire width are shown to result in the reduction of critical currents. The results are relevant for single-photon detectors as well as parametric amplifiers

25 kHz narrow spectral bandwidth of a wavelength tunable diode laser with a short waveguide-based external cavity

We report on the spectral properties of a diode laser with a tunable external cavity in integrated optics. Even though the external cavity is short compared to other small-bandwidth external cavity lasers, the spectral bandwidth of this tunable laser is as small as 25 kHz (FWHM), at a side-mode suppression ratio (SMSR) of 50 dB. Our laser is also able to access preset wavelengths in as little as 200 us and able to tune over the full telecom C-band (1530 nm - 1565 nm).Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

A Unified Approach for the Total Synthesis of cyclo-Archaeol, iso-Caldarchaeol, Caldarchaeol, and Mycoketide

Ir-catalyzed asymmetric alkene hydrogenation is presented as the strategy par excellence to prepare saturated isoprenoids and mycoketides. This highly stereoselective synthesis approach is combined with an established 13 C-NMR method to determine the enantioselectivity of each methyl-branched stereocenter. It is shown that this analysis is fit for purpose and the combination allows the synthesis of the title compounds with a significant increase in efficiency

A versatile method to separate complex lipid mixtures using 1-butanol as eluent in a reverse-phase UHPLC-ESI-MS system

Simple, robust and versatile LC-MS based methods add to the rapid assessment of the lipidome of biological cells. Here we present a versatile RP-UHPLC-MS method using 1-butanol as the eluent, specifically designed to separate different highly hydrophobic lipids. This method is capable of separating different lipid classes of glycerophospholipid standards, in addition to phospholipids of the same class with a different acyl chain composition. The versatility of this method was demonstrated through analysis of lipid extracts of the bacterium Escherichia coli and the archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. In contrast to 2-propanol-based methods, the 1-butanol-based mobile phase is capable of eluting highly hydrophobic analytes such as cardiolipins, tetraether lipids and mycolic acids during the gradient instead of the isocratic purge phase, resulting in an enhanced separation of cardiolipins and extending the analytical range for RPLC

Nodular Regenerative Hyperplasia Secondary to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Colorectal Liver Metastases

Liver resection is the only curative treatment for patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLMs). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy can improve resectability but has a potential harmful effect on the nontumorous liver. Patients with chemotherapy-induced hepatic injury undergoing liver surgery have higher risks of post-resectional morbidity. We present two cases of patients without pre-existent liver disease treated with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy followed by surgical resection of their CLMs. Their intra-operative liver specimen showed morphologic abnormalities characteristic of nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH). NRH led to portal hypertension in both patients that resulted in deleterious post-resectional complications and death of one patient. Interestingly, the other patient underwent two repeat nonanatomic liver resections because of recurrent CLMs. The intra-operative liver specimen still showed signs of NRH and sinusoidal congestion, but the post-resectional courses were uneventful. Nevertheless, caution is recommended in patients with suspected NRH. Careful volumetric analysis should guide the operative strategy. When future remnant liver volume is regarded insufficient, portal vein embolization or restrictive surgery should be considered

From casein to cheese: The role of Lactococcus lactis

Lactococci have limited biosynthetic abilities. In addition to the energy sources many solutes have to be taken up. Essential and non-essential amino acids are accumulated via specific transport systems. The concentration of these solutes in milk is insufficient to support optimal growth. Cells secrete proteinases and peptidases to hydrolyse casein. During milk fermentation, the growth requirements of lactococci are satisfied by the peptides and amino acids released upon casein degradation. When present in limiting amounts. amino acids are acquired by uptake and subsequent hydrolysis of peptides. The effects of an imbalance of the supply of amino acids on the growth and metsbolic activities of these bacteria are discussed