Layered Semiotic Readings in the Semantic Process in Fereshteh Sari's "Abolhol" Modern Story

Verbal discourse of the modern prose is formed by interconnected structure from a conscious mind in a way that the play of the signs in the text along with the personal mentality and memory of the character can become so fluid and elusive that ambiguity becomes a particular component of modern narrative. But semiotic layers with a detailed and systematic reading deal with the interaction of the text layers in the story to investigate implicit and explicit implications of signs in a semantic process through multiple codes and according to the context of the texture. "Abolhol" is a short story by Fereshte Sari written in the eighties. Narrator's diegesis that as if it is the symbolic narrative of the visualization of his subconscious mind and body about the fate of women, shows such semantic capacity of the places such as caravanserai and darkroom so fertile with human and inhuman activists that the phenomenology of reading with a layered semiotic approach, in addition to the interference of the paratext elements in the implications, the layers of time, space, aesthetics, and actors in codes are considered to show their semantic capacity in the semantic process of the story. But in the "sequence" the semantic process of the modern subject is on the path of "becoming" which led to the narrator's transcendental "Stative subject "in addition to the obvious role of "effective verbs" the narrator's "disjunction" was also considered in "meaning manqué" to show the difference between the character of traditional and modern stories in search of objects

Application of Epstein-Barr Virus for Optimization of Immortalized B-lymphocyte Production as a Positive Control in Genetic Studies.

BACKGROUND Infection of B-cells with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) leads to more and subsequent immortalization. This is considered as the method of choice for generating lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Producing LCLs, although very useful but is very time consuming and troublesome, drives the requirement for quicker and more reliable methods for EBV-driven B-cell transformation. MATERIALS AND METHODS After successfully production of LCLs, different parameters including temperature, serum concentration, type of culture medium, and CO2 concentration were evaluated on EBV-transformed B-cells. In this study, we were able to produce LCLs and optimize condition. RESULTS The best condition for generating LCLs was 37°C, 5% CO2, 20% fasting blood sugar, and RPMI 1640. The study results were to establish a reliable method for producing LCLs that can be used to produce immortalized B-cells from almost any sources. CONCLUSION This can help with tumorgenecity studies, as well as producing control material for rare genetic disorders and so on. The aim of this study was to determine optimized condition for reliable and reproducible LCLs from different sources

Freeze-dried multiscale porous nanofibrous three dimensional scaffolds for bone regenerations

Introduction: Simulating hydrophobic-hydrophilic composite face with hierarchical porous and fibrous architectures of bone extracellular matrix (ECM) is a key aspect in bone tissue engineering. This study focused on the fabrication of new three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds containing polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), with and without graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles using the chemical cross-linking and freeze-drying methods for bone tissue application. The effects of GO on physicochemical features and osteoinduction properties of the scaffolds were evaluated through an in vitro study. Methods: After synthesizing the GO nanoparticles, two types of 3D scaffolds, PTFE/PVA (PP) and PTFE/PVA/GO (PPG), were developed by cross-linking and freeze-drying methods. The physicochemical features of scaffolds were assessed and the interaction of the 3D scaffold types with human adipose mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) including attachment, proliferation, and differentiation to osteogenic like cells were investigated. Results: GO nanoparticles were successfully synthesized with no agglomeration. The blending of PTFE as a hydrophobic polymer with PVA polymer and GO nanoparticles (hydrophilic compartments) were successful. Two types of 3D scaffolds had nano topographical structures, good porosities, hydrophilic surfaces, thermal stabilities, good stiffness, as well as supporting the cell attachments, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation. Notably, GO incorporating scaffolds provided a better milieu for cell behaviors. Conclusion: Novel multiscale porous nanofibrous 3D scaffolds made from PTFE/ PVA polymers with and without GO nanoparticles could be an ideal candidate for bone tissue engineering as a 3D template

Isolation and characterization of hydrogen producing bacteria from palm oil mill effluent (POME)

Hydrogen gas and its usage in electricity generation and transportation is attracting wider interests nowadays. This is because it possesses a high-energy yields (122 kJ g–1), it is a renewable energy source, and does not contribute to the greenhouse effect. In Malaysia, 15.2 million tons of wastewater is generated annually by the palm oil industry. The wastewater is known as Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME). This study is focused on the isolation and characterization of hydrogenproducing bacteria from POME. Samples were taken from the sludge and raw waste of palm oil processing effluent. Bacterial isolation was performed to isolate facultative anaerobes and strict anaerobes. The isolated colonies of bacteria were identified and characterized by microbiological analysis and biochemical tests (catalase, indole, nitrate reduction, urea, TSI and citrate test). From TSI test, it was found that one facultative anaerobe (out of 13 colonies altogether) produced gas; and all strict anaerobes produced gas (8 colonies altogether). The gas-producing colonies were then cultivated at 37°C for 24 hours in a synthetic media simulating starch wastewater for screening of hydrogen production. Hydrogen gas production was then analyzed using RGA (Residual Gas Analyzer). Results show that the facultative anaerobe colony did not produce hydrogen gas by starch fermentation; and four colonies obtained via strict anaerobe isolation show hydrogen production. These colonies can be the subject of future studies to optimize hydrogen production from waste materials

Data on bioassay of toxicity reduction of treated textile wastewater by using nanophotocatalytic process by Daphnia magna

Practicability and possibility of photocatalytic degradation of Ro16 textile dye and the actual wastewater of textile were studied on pilot scale. The amount of reduction in solution toxicity was studied and assessed by the application of a bioassay using Daphnia magna. The solution toxicity at the beginning of the process has an increasing procedure and this is caused by the intermediate products that are produced during the photocatalytic process from the mother compounds, and are more toxic compared to them, and their toxicity declines at the end of the process with the completion of mineralization. The procedure of toxicity increase and its decrease in the course of photocatalytic process has a direct relation with the amount of mineralization. Keywords: Bioassay, Daphnia magna, Nanophotocatalytic, Titanium dioxide, Dye RO 1

A novel electrochemical nanobiosensor for the ultrasensitive and specific detection of femtomolar-level gastric cancer biomarker miRNA-106a

Gastric cancer (GC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths all over the world. miR-106a is a circulatory oncogenic microRNA (miRNA), which overexpresses in various malignancies, especially in GC. In this study, an ultrasensitive electrochemical nanobiosensor was developed for the detection of miR-106a using a double-specific probe methodology and a gold–magnetic nanocomposite as tracing tag. The successful modification of the electrode and hybridization with the target miRNA were confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) methods. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used for quantitative evaluation of miR-106a via recording the reduction peak current of gold nanoparticles. The electrochemical signal had a linear relationship with the concentration of the target miRNA ranging from 1 × 10−3 pM to 1 × 103 pM, and the detection limit was 3 × 10−4 pM. The proposed miRNA-nanobiosensor showed remarkable selectivity, high specificity, agreeable storage stability, and great performance in real sample investigation with no pretreatment or amplification. Consequently, our biosensing strategy offers such a promising application to be used for clinical early detection of GC and additionally the screen of any miRNA sequence

The knowledge of pediatric intensive care unit staffs regarding Pulse Oximetery

Background & Aim: Pulse Oximeter monitoring technology has become so common in intensive health care settings over the last decade that blood oxygen level is now considered as the fifth vital sign. However, it seems that medical and nursing staffs are not specially educated to operate with the devices. The aim of the study was to investigate the knowledge of medical assistants (residents), nurses and anesthesia technicians of pediatric intensive care units regarding Pulse Oximetery. Methods & Materials: This is a cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of all nurses, first year to third year medical assistants, and anesthesia technicians who working in intensive care units in Pediatric Center. A questionnaire was used for data gathering that had three sections: the first section as demographic data (occupational condition, record of service in pediatric unit, having the experience of using Pulse Oximetery, having enough knowledge about Pulse Oximetery, and its educational program type); the second section (eighteen short answer questions) in order to determine the participants knowledge about Pulse Oximetery and the third section (four imaginary clinical scenarios) evaluating the participants interpretation on Pulse Oximetery reports and its changes in patients. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics (Fisher exact test) by SPSS v.15 and EPI6 computer softwares. Results: The analyses showed that 77.4% of the participants did not pass any educational course regarding Pulse Oximetery, also 67.9% of them correctly identified what Pulse Oximeter measures, and 47.2% of the subjects correctly identified how a Pulse Oximeter works, and 13.2% identified its normal range, but only 26.4% had a correct understanding of the Oxhemoglobin dissociation curve and explained it completely true. It was found that the majority of the participants were wrong in their answers about Pulse Oximeter monitoring. They made mistakes in interpretation of the imaginary clinical scenarios. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the majority of pediatric intensive care unit staffs have little knowledge regarding Pulse Oximeter monitoring, then with attention to the vast usage of the technology the necessity of formal educational programs in colleges and retraining courses during employment about the device for health care providers is apparent. &nbsp

Preconcentration of trace amounts of cobalt (II) ions in water and agricultural products samples using of 5-(4-dimethylaminobenzylidene) rhodanin modified SBA-15 sorbent prior to FAAS determination

<p>In the present study, the ‎5-(4-dimethylaminobenzylidene)rhodanin-modified SBA-15‎ was applied as stable solid sorbent for the separation and preconcentration of trace amounts of cobalt ions in aqueous solution. SBA-15 was modified by ‎5-(4-dimethylaminobenzylidene)rhodanin reagent. The sorption of Co²⁺ ions was done onto modified sorbent in the pH range of 6.8–7.9 and desorption  occurred in 5.0 mL of 3.0 mol L⁻¹ HNO₃. The results exhibit a linear dynamic range from 0.01 to 6.0 mg L⁻¹ for cobalt. Intra-day (repeatability) and inter-day (reproducibility) for 10 replicated determination of 0.06 mg L⁻¹ of cobalt was ±1.82% and ‎±1.97%‎. Detection limit was 4.2 µg L⁻¹ (3S_b, <i>n</i> = 5) and preconcentration factor was 80. The effects of the experimental parameters, including the sample pH, flow rates of sample and eluent solution, eluent type and interference ions were studied for the preconcentration of Co²⁺. The proposed method was applied for the determination of cobalt in standard samples, water samples and agricultural products.</p

The association between transition from metabolically healthy obesity to metabolic syndrome, and incidence of cardiovascular disease: Tehran lipid and glucose study.

Considering that the data available on the cardiovascular (CV) risk of metabolically healthy obesity phenotype, and the effect of transition to an unhealthy status are inconsistent, the aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of transition to unhealthy status among metabolically healthy overweight/obese (MHO) subjects on CVD incidence over a median follow-up of 15.9 years. In this large population-based cohort, 6758 participants (41.6% men) aged ≥ 20 years, were enrolled. Participants were divided into 4 groups based on their obesity phenotypes and follow-up results, including persistent metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), persistent MHO, transitional MHO and metabolically unhealthy overweight/obese (MUO). Metabolic health was defined as not having metabolic syndrome based on the Joint Interim Statement (JIS) criteria. Multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated for cardiovascular events. During follow-up, rate of CVD Incidence per 1000 person-years were 12 and 7 in males and females, respectively. Multivariable adjusted HRs (CI 95%) of CVD incidence among males and females were 1.37 (.78-2.41) and .85 (.34-2.15) in persistent MHO group, 1.55 (1.02-2.37) and .93 (.41-2.12) in transitional MHO group and 2.64 (1.89-3.70) and 2.65 (1.24-5.68) in MUO group. Our findings showed that CVD risk did not increase in the persistent MHO phenotype over a 15.9-year follow-up in both sexes. However, transition from MHO to MUO status during follow-up increased the CVD risk just in male individuals. Further studies are needed to provide conclusive evidence in favor of benign nature of transitional MHO phenotype in females

Leisure time physical activity and its determinants among adults in Tehran: Tehran lipid and glucose study

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess leisure time physical activity and its determinants among adults in Tehran. Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised adults (n = 7285), aged 20 years and older. The subjects were participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study between 2002 and 2004. Information on the number of days spent on different activities during a week and the time devoted to each activity on a typical day was recorded. In addition, each activity, weighted by its relative intensity, was referred to as a metabolic equivalent. Results: The prevalence of inactivity was 69.8% (95% CI: 68.7-70.8) in the whole population and 30.2% (95% CI: 27.2-33.1%) of men and 30.3% (95% CI: 27.7-32.8%) of women were considered as active. Leisure time physical activity less than 30 min/week was scored in 1590 (50.6%) men and 1803 (43.5%) women. The most frequent leisure time physical activity performed by men (96.1%) and women (95.2%) was walking. A negative association was observed in men between leisure time physical activity and increased work hours, older age, more cigarette smoking and higher body mass index (69.8% were overweight and 75.3% were obese; P < 0.05). Leisure time physical activity was more likely to be associated with high educational levels in men. In addition, there was a statistically significant relationship between physical inactivity and occupation in both men and women. Conclusions: The prevalence of physical inactivity among adults in Tehran was high. Leisure time physical inactivity was more likely to be associated with older age, more cigarette smoking, more working hours, and higher body mass index. Public health efforts are needed to improve people′s participation in physical activities in Iran