Spectral splits of neutrinos as a BCS-BEC crossover type phenomenon

We show that the spectral split of a neutrino ensemble which initially consists of electron type neutrinos, is analogous to the BCS-BEC crossover already observed in ultra cold atomic gas experiments. Such a neutrino ensemble mimics the deleptonization burst of a core collapse supernova. Although these two phenomena belong to very different domains of physics, the propagation of neutrinos from highly interacting inner regions of the supernova to the vacuum is reminiscent of the evolution of Cooper pairs between weak and strong interaction regimes during the crossover. The Hamiltonians and the corresponding many-body states undergo very similar transformations if one replaces the pair quasispin of the latter with the neutrino isospin of the former.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Psychological Violence in the Health Care Settings in Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Psychological violence is the most common form of workplace violence that can affect professional performance and job satisfaction of health care workers. Although several studies have been conducted in Iran, but there is no consensus regarding current status of such violence. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of psychological violence among healthcare workers employed at teaching hospitals in Iran. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 5874 health professionals were selected using multistage random sampling. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire developed by the International Labor Organization, International Council of Nurses, World Health Organization, and Public Services International. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: It was found that 74.7% of the participants were subjected to psychological violence during the past 12 months. Totally, 64.5% of psychological violence was committed by patients’ families, but 50.9% of participants had not reported the violence, and 69.9% of them believed that reporting was useless. Conclusions: The results are indicative of high prevalence of psychological violence against healthcare workers. Considering non-reporting of violence in more than half of participants, use of an appropriate reporting system and providing training programs for health professionals in order to prevent and manage workplace violence are essential

Электромагнитная обстановка в компьютерных классах, ее контроль и методы нормализации

Приведены результаты экспериментального исследования электромагнитной обстановки (ЭМО), создаваемой компьютерами в учебных помещениях. Показано, что в зависимости от места расположения компьютера меняются размеры, создаваемой им зоны опасного излучения, даны рекомендации по контролю ЭМО и методам ее нормализации

High resolution melting curve assay for detecting rs12979860 IL28B polymorphisms involved in response of iranian patients to chronic hepatitis C treatment

Background: A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) on patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treated with peginterferon and ribavirin (pegIFN-α/RBV) identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on chromosome 19 (rs12979860) which was strongly associated with a sustained virological response (SVR). The aim of this study was twofold: to study the relationship between IL28B rs12979860 and sustained virological response (SVR) to pegIFN-α/RVB therapy among CHC patients and to detect the rs12979860 polymorphism by high resolution melting curve (HRM) assay as a simple, fast, sensitive, and inexpensive method. Materials and Methods: The study examined outcomes in 100 patients with chronic hepatitis C in 2 provinces of Iran from December 2011 to June 2013. Two methods were applied to detect IL28B polymorphisms: PCR-sequencing as a gold standard method and HRM as a simple, fast, sensitive, and inexpensive method. Results: The frequencies of IL28B rs12979860 CC, CT, and TT alleles in chronic hepatitis C genotype 1a patients were 10 (10/100), 35 (35/100), and 6 (6/100) and in genotype 3a were 13 (13/100), 31 (31/100), and 5 (5/100), respectively. In genotype 3a infected patients, rs12979860 (CC and CT alleles) and in genotype 1a infected patients (CC allele) were significantly associated with a sustained virological response (SVR). The SVR rates for CC, CT and TT (IL28B rs12979860) were 18, 34 and 4, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified two independent factors that were significantly associated with SVR: IL-28B genotype (rs 12979860 CC vs TT and CT; odds ratio ORs, 7.86 and 4.084, respectively), and HCV subtype 1a (OR, 7.46). In the present study, an association between SVR rates and IL28B polymorphisms was observed. Conclusions: The HRM assay described herein is rapid, inexpensive, sensitive and accurate for detecting rs12979860 alleles in CHC patients. This method can be readily adopted by any molecular diagnostic laboratory with HRM capability and will be clinically beneficial in predicting treatment response in HCV genotype 1 and 3 infected patients. In addition, it was demonstrated that CC and CT alleles in HCV-3a and the CC allele in HCV-1a were significantly associated with response to pegIFN-α/RBV treatment. The present results may help identify subjects for whom the therapy might be successful

Investigation the integration of heliostat solar receiver to gas and combined cycles by energy, exergy, and economic point of views

Due to the high amount of natural gas resources in Iran, the gas cycle as one of the main important power production system is used to produce electricity. The gas cycle has some disadvantages such as power consumption of air compressors, which is a major part of gas turbine electrical production and a considerable reduction in electrical power production by increasing the environment temperature due to a reduction in air density and constant volumetric airflow through a gas cycle. To overcome these weaknesses, several methods are applied such as cooling the inlet air of the system by different methods and integration heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) with the gas cycle. In this paper, using a heliostat solar receiver (HSR) in gas and combined cycles are investigated by energy, exergy, and economic analyses in Tehran city. The heliostat solar receiver is used to heat the pressurized exhaust air from the air compressor in gas and combined cycles. The key parameter of the three mentioned analyses was calculated and compared by writing computer code in MATLAB software. Results showed the use of HSR in gas and combined cycles increase the annual average energy efficiency from 28.4% and 48.5% to 44% and 76.5%, respectively. Additionally, for exergy efficiency, these increases are from 29.2% and 49.8% to 45.2% and 78.5%, respectively. However, from an economic point of view, adding the HRSG increases the payback period (PP) and it decreases the net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR)

The decrease in NKG2D+ Natural Killer cells in peripheral blood of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Background: Natural killer (NK) cells play important roles in the immune defense against tumors such as colorectal cancer. In humans, NKG2D is an activating immune receptor constitutively expressed in most cytotoxic lymphocytes including NK and CD8+ T cells. In this study, the expression of NKG2D molecule was investigated in peripheral blood NK cells from colorectal cancer patients and compared with healthy subjects. Methods: We studied 21 non-metastatic (low-grade), 17 non-metastatic (high-grade), 16 metastatic colorectal cancer patients, and 24 healthy controls. Peripheral blood samples were obtained to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the percentage of peripheral blood NKG2D+CD3-CD56+ NK cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of NKG2D at mRNA level was also measured by real-time PCR in both, patients and control subjects. Results: The results showed a significant reduction in the percentage of NKG2D+NK cells as well as NKG2D mRNA expression in peripheral blood of metastatic colon cancer patients. Conclusion: This result suggests that decreased expression of activating NKG2D receptor in metastatic colorectal cancer might compromise NK cell function and allow tumor to evade immunity (Tab. 3, Fig. 4, Ref. 33). Text in PDF www.elis.sk

Comparison of contrast sensitivity in β-thalassemia patients treated by deferoxamine or deferasirox

Purpose: To compare contrast sensitivity (CS) in multi-transfused β-thalassemia patients who received deferoxamine with those who received Osveral. Methods: In this cross sectional study a total of 60 β-thalassemia patients (30 used deferoxamine and 30 used deferasirox) were regarded as case group and 30 age and sex matched healthy subjects were selected as control group. All subjects had a set of examinations including refraction, visual acuity, Biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy and CS. Contrast threshold was assessed with the use of Freiberg visual acuity and contrast test under the mesopic light condition for three frequencies; 1, 5, 15. cpd. All data analysis was performed using SPSS, version 17. Results: In visual acuity tests, thalassemic patients did not have any problem. Contrast threshold was higher in thalassemic patients who infuse deferoxamine (1.87. ±. 0.63, 1.46. ±. 0.81, and 2.96. ±. 1.68 in 1, 5, and 15. cpd, respectively) than that of those who intake deferasirox (1.74. ±. 0.80 (P = 0.743), 0.99. ±. 0.74 (P = 0.047), and 2.42. ±. 1.36 (P = 0.321) for 1, 5, and 15. cpd, respectively), and also than healthy patients (1.33. ±. 0.58 (P = 0.009), 0.95. ±. 0.68 (P = 0.022), and 2.24. ±. 1.23 (P = 0.135) for 1, 5, and 15. cpd, respectively). Comparing those who used deferasirox with healthy subjects, contrast threshold was higher in deferasirox group at all special frequencies (P >. 0.05). No significant relationship was observed between CS values and duration of transfusion, serum ferritin concentration and dose of chelation therapy (P >. 0.05). Conclusions: CS tests can detect visual disturbance in thalassemic patients before the impairment of visual acuity. It is suggested that CS tests be included in their regular eye examination. © 2018 Spanish General Council of Optometry

Comparison of contrast sensitivity in β-thalassemia patients treated by deferoxamine or deferasirox

Purpose: To compare contrast sensitivity (CS) in multi-transfused β-thalassemia patients who received deferoxamine with those who received Osveral. Methods: In this cross sectional study a total of 60 β-thalassemia patients (30 used deferoxamine and 30 used deferasirox) were regarded as case group and 30 age and sex matched healthy subjects were selected as control group. All subjects had a set of examinations including refraction, visual acuity, Biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy and CS. Contrast threshold was assessed with the use of Freiberg visual acuity and contrast test under the mesopic light condition for three frequencies; 1, 5, 15. cpd. All data analysis was performed using SPSS, version 17. Results: In visual acuity tests, thalassemic patients did not have any problem. Contrast threshold was higher in thalassemic patients who infuse deferoxamine (1.87. ±. 0.63, 1.46. ±. 0.81, and 2.96. ±. 1.68 in 1, 5, and 15. cpd, respectively) than that of those who intake deferasirox (1.74. ±. 0.80 (P = 0.743), 0.99. ±. 0.74 (P = 0.047), and 2.42. ±. 1.36 (P = 0.321) for 1, 5, and 15. cpd, respectively), and also than healthy patients (1.33. ±. 0.58 (P = 0.009), 0.95. ±. 0.68 (P = 0.022), and 2.24. ±. 1.23 (P = 0.135) for 1, 5, and 15. cpd, respectively). Comparing those who used deferasirox with healthy subjects, contrast threshold was higher in deferasirox group at all special frequencies (P >. 0.05). No significant relationship was observed between CS values and duration of transfusion, serum ferritin concentration and dose of chelation therapy (P >. 0.05). Conclusions: CS tests can detect visual disturbance in thalassemic patients before the impairment of visual acuity. It is suggested that CS tests be included in their regular eye examination. © 2018 Spanish General Council of Optometry

Comparison of contrast sensitivity in β-thalassemia patients treated by deferoxamine or deferasirox Comparación de la sensibilidad de contraste en los pacientes con β-Talasemia tratados con Deferoxamina o Deferasirox

Purpose: To compare contrast sensitivity (CS) in multi-transfused β-thalassemia patients who received deferoxamine with those who received Osveral. Methods: In this cross sectional study a total of 60 β-thalassemia patients (30 used deferoxamine and 30 used deferasirox) were regarded as case group and 30 age and sex matched healthy subjects were selected as control group. All subjects had a set of examinations including refraction, visual acuity, Biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy and CS. Contrast threshold was assessed with the use of Freiberg visual acuity and contrast test under the mesopic light condition for three frequencies; 1, 5, 15 cpd. All data analysis was performed using SPSS, version 17. Results: In visual acuity tests, thalassemic patients did not have any problem. Contrast threshold was higher in thalassemic patients who infuse deferoxamine (1.87 ± 0.63, 1.46 ± 0.81, and 2.96 ± 1.68 in 1, 5, and 15 cpd, respectively) than that of those who intake deferasirox (1.74 ± 0.80 (P = 0.743), 0.99 ± 0.74 (P = 0.047), and 2.42 ± 1.36 (P = 0.321) for 1, 5, and 15 cpd, respectively), and also than healthy patients (1.33 ± 0.58 (P = 0.009), 0.95 ± 0.68 (P = 0.022), and 2.24 ± 1.23 (P = 0.135) for 1, 5, and 15 cpd, respectively). Comparing those who used deferasirox with healthy subjects, contrast threshold was higher in deferasirox group at all special frequencies (P > 0.05). No significant relationship was observed between CS values and duration of transfusion, serum ferritin concentration and dose of chelation therapy (P > 0.05). Conclusions: CS tests can detect visual disturbance in thalassemic patients before the impairment of visual acuity. It is suggested that CS tests be included in their regular eye examination. © 2018 Spanish General Council of Optometr

BVVL/ FL: features caused by SLC52A3 mutations; WDFY4 and TNFSF13B may be novel causative genes

Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere (BVVL) and Fazio-Londe are disorders with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-like features, usually with recessive inheritance. We aimed to identify causative mutations in 10 probands. Neurological examinations, genetic analysis, audiometry, magnetic resonance imaging, biochemical and immunological testings, and/or muscle histopathology were performed. Mutations in known causative gene SLC52A3 were found in 7 probands. More importantly, only 1 mutated allele was observed in several patients, and variable expressivity and incomplete penetrance were clearly noted. Environmental insults may contribute to variable presentations. Putative causative mutations in other genes were identified in 3 probands. Two of the genes, WDFY4 and TNFSF13B, have immune-related functions. Inflammatory responses were implicated in the patient with the WDFY4 mutation. Malfunction of the immune system and mitochondrial anomalies were shown in the patient with the TNFSF13B mutation. Prevalence of heterozygous SLC52A3 BVVL causative mutations and notable variability in expressivity of homozygous and heterozygous genotypes are being reported for the first time. Identification of WDFY4 and TNFSF13B as candidate causative genes supports conjectures on involvement of the immune system in BVVL and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis