Lovelock Thin-Shell Wormholes

We construct the asymptotically flat charged thin-shell wormholes of Lovelock gravity in seven dimensions by cut-and-paste technique, and apply the generalized junction conditions in order to calculate the energy-momentum tensor of these wormholes on the shell. We find that for negative second order and positive third order Lovelock coefficients, there are thin-shell wormholes that respect the weak energy condition. In this case, the amount of normal matter decreases as the third order Lovelock coefficient increases. For positive second and third order Lovelock coefficients, the weak energy condition is violated and the amount of exotic matter decreases as the charge increases. Finally, we perform a linear stability analysis against a symmetry preserving perturbation, and find that the wormholes are stable provided the derivative of surface pressure density with respect to surface energy density is negative and the throat radius is chosen suitable.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure

Prioritization of interventions for strengthening architectural heritage

Architectural heritage is continuously exposed to natural disasters, such as strong earthquakes and this highlights the importance of reducing their vulnerability. While it is not possible to simultaneously strengthen all architectural heritage structures due to the limited skilled labour and budget restrictions, different buildings may need different treatments due to differences in exposure to seismic hazard, relative importance and vulnerability. Therefore, there is a need for a decision making strategy to find optimized solutions to achieve the highest possible stability and benefits. The primary objective of this research is to develop a practical step-by-step decision making process for the planning and prioritization of interventions in architectural heritage structures based on the level of seismic hazard, vulnerability and condition assessment, available preservation and strengthening techniques, compatibility with conservation ethics, available budget and expected benefits in various time schedules. The proposed methodology, is shown by diagram and mathematical formulae, and is demonstrated through a case study example

Foodborne Listeriosis

Abstract: Foodborne listeriosis is a rare and very dangerous disease which is caused by Listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium is found in the nature in very high population, but can cause disease only in certain groups of people. Listeriosis usually happens after consumption of unpasteurized dairy products especially soft and unripe cheeses and ready to eat meat products like hot dog by susceptible people. In general, pregnant women, infants, elderly people and immuno deficient patients are susceptible to this disease. Listeria monocytogenes is able to produce septicemia, meningitis and abortion in human. The important characteristic of this bacterium is its ability to live inside the cells of immune system and by this way, it is able to distribute through body easily. In order to prevent listeriosis, susceptible people should avoid eating unpasteurized dairy products and ready to eat meats. Keywords: Foodborne disease, Listeria infections, Listeria monocytogene

The effect of rosemary extract on spatial memory, learning and antioxidant enzymes activities in the hippocampus of middle-aged rats

Background: The Rosemary extract (RE) possesses various antioxidant, cytoprotective and cognition-improving bioactivities. In this study, we postulated which doses of RE have a more effect on the hippocampus of middle-aged rats. Methods: In this experimental study, thirty-two middle-aged male Wistar rats were fed by different doses (50,100 and 200 mg/kg/day) of RE (containing 40 carnosic acid) or distilled water for 12 weeks. The effects of different RE doses on learning and spatial memory scores, hippocampal neuronal survival, antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation amount were evaluated by one and two way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: It seemed that RE (100mg/kg) could recover the spatial memory retrieval score (p< 0.05). The amount of activity of SOD, GPx and CAT enzymes in the hippocampus of animals of the RE (100mg/kg) group showed a significant increase compared to the normal group (p< 0.01), (p< 0.01) and (p< 0.05), respectively. Also, the amount of activity of GPx in the RE (50 mg/kg) group of animals showed a significant increase compared to the normal group (p< 0.05). No significant difference was found between the groups in the MDA level. Conclusion: The results revealed that rosemary extract (40 carnosic acid) may improve the memory score and oxidative stress activity in middle aged rats in a dose dependent manner, especially in 100mg/kg

Apolipoprotein A1 as a novel anti-implantation biomarker in polycystic ovary syndrome: A case-control study

Background: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome have lower pregnancy rates, possibly due to the decreased uterine receptivity. Successful implantation depends on protein networks that are essential for cross-talk between the embryo and endometrium. Apolipoprotein A1 has been proposed as a putative anti-implantation factor. In this study, we evaluated apolipoprotein A1 expression in human endometrial tissues. Materials and Methods: Endometrial apolipoprotein A1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression were investigated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot. The distribution of apolipoprotein A1 was also detected by immunostaining. Samples were obtained from 10 patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and 15 healthy fertile women in the proliferative (on day 2 or day 3 before ovulation, n = 7) and secretory (on days 3-5 after ovulation, n = 8) phases. Results: Endometrial apolipoprotein A1 expression was upregulated in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome compared to normal subjects. However, apolipoprotein A1 expression in the proliferative phase was significantly higher than in the luteal phase (P value < 0.05). Conclusion: It seems that differentially expressed apolipoprotein A1 negatively affects endometrial receptivity in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. The results showed that apolipoprotein A1 level significantly changes in the human endometrium during the menstrual cycle with minimum expression in the secretory phase, coincident with the receptive phase (window of implantation). Further studies are required to clarify the clinical application of this protein. © 2015 Journal of Research in Medical Sciences

Reduction in ischemic brain injury following the administration of pentoxifylline after transient global ischemia/reperfusion in a rat model

Background: It is well known that the hippocampus, the CA1 Pyramidal cells in particular, is selectively vulnerable during global cerebral ischemia. Recently, it is observed that pentoxifylline has a neuroprotective effect. This study explored the pharmacological relationship between ischemiainduced cell death of the hippocampus and the efficacy of a vasodilator agent (pentoxifylline) in the prevention of delayed neuronal death. Methods: This experimental study was performed on 4 groups: control, ischemia, experimental (200mg/kg pentoxifylline injection one hour prior to and one hour following ischemia) and vehicle (normal saline). Transient global ischemia was induced by bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion. To investigate the apoptotic bodies and caspase-3 activities as a central role in the execution phase of apoptosis, the brains were prepared for the TUNEL technique. Results: Pentoxifylline administration limited apoptosis and caspase-3 activities in rats' hippocampi. Our data showed no significant difference between the number of apoptotic bodies in the CA1 region of the hippocampus in the control and pentoxifylline -treated groups (p= 0.994). The results of one- way ANOVA revealed that that ischemia significantly increased caspase-3 levels in the hippocampus (p< 0.05); however, the level of caspase-3 in pentoxifylline -treated rats was less than the ischemic group. Conclusion: These results suggest that the neuroprotective effect of pentoxifylline (200mg/kg) may be accompanied by a reduction in ischemic damage within the CA1 region of the hippocampus in rats subjected to transient global cerebral ischemia

Causes of Death Accompanying by Soft Tissue Neck Hemorrhage

Background: Generally, soft tissue hemorrhages in anterior part of the neck are attributed to the neck compression or trauma and suspicion goes more to homicidal death than suicide. Although artificial posterior neck hemorrhages are described as Prinsloo-Gordon phenomenon in cadavers with posterior lividity, studies conducted on such hemorrhages in the anterior and lateral compartments are rare. This study intends to investigate causes of death accompanied by soft tissue neck hemorrhages in different compartments of neck. Method: In this retrospective case series, between March 2008 and 2009, cadavers whose autopsies indicated soft tissue neck hemorrhages and the lividity was dominant in posterior, were evaluated according to the cause of death and anatomical and histological locations of hemorrhage. Results: Among 86 cases of neck hemorrhage, 72.1% (n=62) were male. Direct neck trauma, hanging, strangulation, chocking and positional asphyxia constituted 50% (n=43) of them, 40.7% (n=35) were non-asphyxial, non-traumatic deaths such as natural diseases, drug and CO poisoning, electrocution and drowning, and 9.3% (n=8) were unknown. 65.1% (n=28) of non-traumatic, non-asphyxial cases bore anterior or lateral neck hemorrhages. Conclusion: The considerable prevalence of soft neck tissue hemorrhages in non asphyxial deaths with no history of neck trauma and the location of such hemorrhages in anterior and lateral sides of neck, lead the investigators to pay more attention to interpret these hemorrhages and determining the mode and cause of death

Effects of vitamin C supplementation on leadinduced apoptosis in adult rat hippocampus

BACKGROUND: Lead has caused widespread pollution in the environment due to the numerous industrial applications. One principle target for lead in the human body is the central nervous system. However, research has demonstrated that neurotoxic effects of lead can be ameliorated by antioxidant agents, such as vitamin C. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of vitamin C supplementation against lead-induced apoptosis in the adult rat hippocampus, as well as changes in pro-apoptotic protein Bax expression. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A randomized, controlled, animal study was performed at the College of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences from December 2007 to April 2009. MATERIALS: Lead acetate and vitamin C were purchased from Sigma, USA. METHODS: Thirty male rats were randomly assigned to three groups, with 10 rats in each group: control, lead, and lead + vitamin C. Rats from the lead group received intraperitoneal administration of lead 20 mg/kg per day for 7 days. Rats from the lead + vitamin C group received ascorbic acid 500 mg/kg per day in addition to lead acetate (as per the lead group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: After 7 days of vitamin C administration, hippocampal cell apoptosis was observed using uranyl acetate and lead citrate stainings, hippocampal Bax protein expression was detected by Western blot analysis, and blood lead levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. RESULTS: Vitamin C supplementation significantly reduced lead-induced hippocampal cell apoptosis and decreased hippocampal Bax protein expression. However, vitamin C treatment did not significantly decrease blood lead levels. CONCLUSION: Vitamin C significantly decreased Bax expression and reduced lead-induced hippocampal cell apoptosis

An approach to dynamic and targeted education of architecture basic courses

Background and Objective:Architecture is a science in which aesthetics and sensory experiences are very important and creative action is a way of thinking and understanding. The use of combination education in basic courses is very important and combination education is very important in successfully achieving educational goals. By using efficient teaching methods and scientific methods, abandoning traditional methods, challenging students' minds, applying the element of creativity at all levels of teaching and creating active and dynamic classrooms that ensure sustainable learning in students, the desired situation can be achieved. Education in architecture uses visual methods in teaching and design process. The methods of teaching basic architecture courses should be such that they develop personal feelings and gain the confidence of new students, so proper training in the studios of basic courses is of special importance to improve the skills of new students. The proper education in basic courses is very important in improving the skills of novices. The purpose of this qualitative study is to assess the pathology of architecture education in the basic courses and provide some ways to improve the skills of the novices. Methods: So, through interview with university professors and graduates of architecture and evaluating the practices of students in basic courses, the concepts related to architecture training in basic courses extracted. Then, by using the SWOT analysis, the opportunities and threats for teaching the basic courses have been identified and accordingly the solutions suggested for the dynamic education of architecture. Findings: The results of this study indicated that using the combination education of basic courses, preparation of a joint lesson plan, emphasis on individual and group exercises, with an emphasis on promoting motivation, emotional intelligence and creativity of the novice students of architecture, a dynamic education can be achieved. Conclusion: Miscellaneous training and tasteful choice of type of prerequisites exercises for design courses in some studios, lack of coordination between teachers in choosing the type of exercises and the lack of a reliable relationship between the courses cause confusion, reduced skills and abilities of new students; and as a result, their academic motivation decreases. Therefore, the need for methods to create academic motivation and increase creativity and emotional intelligence in students is essential. Accordingly, teaching prerequisite design courses with an appropriate teaching method, including the combined studio method (simultaneous and combined teaching of basic courses) promotes students' creativity, increases their academic motivation and emotional intelligence, which can be dynamic and purposeful education, according to which the quality of education is improved, and this requires the organization of methods of taste of the professors of this field that are used during the correction process. When novice architects have high motivation, creativity and emotional intelligence, they will be more able to find unique design answers, and as a result, by choosing a suitable concept, they will determine their design path and achieve an acceptable design.   ===================================================================================== COPYRIGHTS  ©2019 The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, as long as the original authors and source are cited. No permission is required from the authors or the publishers.  ====================================================================================