Mechanism understanding of Li-ion separation using a perovskite-based membrane

Lithium ions play a crucial role in the energy storage industry. Finding suitable lithium-ion-conductive membranes is one of the important issues of energy storage studies. Hence, a perovskite-based membrane, Lithium Lanthanum Titanate (LLTO), was innovatively implemented in the presence and absence of solvents to precisely understand the mechanism of lithium ion separation. The ion-selective membrane’s mechanism and the perovskite-based membrane’s efficiency were investigated using Molecular Dynamic (MD) simulation. The results specified that the change in the ambient condition, pH, and temperature led to a shift in LLTO pore sizes. Based on the results, pH plays an undeniable role in facilitating lithium ion transmission through the membrane. It is noticeable that the hydrogen bond interaction between the ions and membrane led to an expanding pore size, from (1.07 Å) to (1.18 – 1.20 Å), successfully enriching lithium from seawater. However, this value in the absence of the solvent would have been 1.1 Å at 50 °C. It was found that increasing the temperature slightly impacted lithium extraction. The charge analysis exhibited that the trapping energies applied by the membrane to the first three ions (Li +, K +, and Na+) were more than the ions’ hydration energies. Therefore, Li +, K +, and Na + were fully dehydrated, whereas Mg2 + was partially dehydrated and could not pass through the membrane. Evaluating the membrane window diameter, and the combined effect of the three key parameters (barrier energy, hydration energy, and binding energy) illustrates that the required energy to transport Li ions through the membrane is higher than that for other monovalent cations

Confirmatory factor analysis and gender invariance of the Persian version of psychological control scale: association with internalizing and externalizing behavior problems

IntroductionThe current cross-sectional study aimed to examine the reliability, construct validity, gender invariance and concurrent validity of the psychological control scale-youth self-report (PCS-YSR) among Iranian adolescents.MethodsA total of 1,453 high school students (49.2% boys; Mage = 15.48, SD = 0.97), who aged between 14 and 18 years old completed the PCS-YSR and the youth self-report (YSR) scale of behavior problems.ResultsReliability was established using Cronbach’s alpha and ordinal alpha for maternal and paternal psychological control. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results supported the original unidimensional model of the PCS-YSR scale for both mother and father forms. Results also revealed that mother and father forms of PCS-YSR were invariant across adolescents’ gender. When comparing the mean differences, mothers were more psychologically controlling toward their sons, compared to their daughters. The mother and father forms of PCS-YSR were found to have acceptable concurrent validity through their relationship to internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems.DiscussionOverall, our findings supported the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Psychological Control Scale-Youth Self-Report among Iranian adolescents. This scale can be used as an efficient tool for parental psychological control among adolescents in Iran. The negative effect of the intrusive parenting behavior on child’ negative outcomes in Iran, irrespective of culture, was shown

The Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection and Genotypes in Patients with Hemophilia and Other Blood Coagulopathies in Mashhad, Iran

Background and Aim: Patients with blood coagulopathies treated with multiple transfusions have a high risk to acquire some viral infections such as hepatitis C. This research was aimed to identify hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection prevalence, and the viral genotypes among patients with hemophilia and other inherited coagulopathies in Mashhad, Iran. Methods: Medical records of 760 patients with inherited coagulopathies including hemophilia were reviewed in Sarvar Clinic of Mashhad. Plasma samples were subjected to detect antibodies against HCV (anti-HCV) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HCV RNA and genotypes were determined by a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Results: Totally 128 individuals (16.8%) including patients with hemophilia (n=116) and individuals with other coagulopathies (n=12) were found to be seropositive for anti-HCV. They comprised 122 men and six women with a mean age of 31.6 ± 10.5 years. The PCR results were available for 118 patients, of whom 86 individuals (72.9%) were found to have detectable HCV RNA in their serum. The most frequent genotypes were 1a and 3a (49.1% and 35.8%, respectively). HCV genotypes were not significantly correlated with the patients’ age (p=0.477) as well as with the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (p=0.655) and aspartate aminotransferase (p=0.332). Conclusion: The patients with blood coagulation disorders had a greater prevalence of HCV infection in comparison with the general population in our region. The most common subgenotypes of HCV were 1a, and 3a, respectively. These results could assist professionals to choose more efficient approaches for the management of their patients. *Corresponding Author: Mohammad Reza Hedayati-Moghaddam; Email: [email protected] Please cite this article as: Badiei Z, Ahmadi-Ghezeldasht S, Sima HR, Habibi M, Khamooshi M, Azimi A, Hedayati-Moghaddam MR. The Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection and Genotypes in Patients with Hemophilia and Other Blood Coagulopathies in Mashhad, Iran. Arch Med Lab Sci. 2021;7:1-7 (e9). https://doi.org/10.22037/amls.v7.3396

Capacity building for priority setting in Farrokhshahr population

زمینه و هدف: تعیین‌ اولویت‌های پژوهشی فرآیندی‌ مهم‌ در مدیریت‌ پژوهش‌ها در تمام حوزه ها بخصوص حوزه سلامت‌ کشورها بشمار می رود که‌ اهمیت‌ آن‌ بویژه‌در زمان‌ تخصیص‌ منابع‌ محدود مالی‌ و انسانی‌ دو چندان‌ می شود. فرآیند تعیین‌ اولویت‌ها به‌ تمامی‌ کشورها در زمینه‌ طرح‌ ریزی‌ برنامه‌های‌ پژوهش‌ در حوزه‌ سلامت‌ و بسیج‌ و تخصیص‌ منابع‌ پژوهشی‌ و همچنین‌ تقویت ‌ظرفیت‌ پژوهشی‌ بومی‌ خود کمک‌ خواهد کرد. گروههای‌ ذینفعی‌ که‌ باید در فرآیند تعیین‌ اولویت‌ها شرکت‌ داده‌ شوند علاوه‌ برپژوهشگران‌ شامل‌ بهره‌ گیرندگان‌ بالقوه‌ و مردمی‌ می‌باشند که‌ از نتایج‌ پژوهش‌ تأثیر خواهند پذیرفت‌. در این مطالعه توانمند سازی مردم در تعیین اولویت های مشکلات مردم فرخشهر در استان چهار محال و بختیاری به صورت مشارکتی مورد بررسی قرار گرفته است. روش بررسی: این‌ پروژه‌ یک‌ تحقیق‌ مشارکتی است که‌ در آن‌ مشکلات‌ شناسایی‌ شده‌ با روش‌ ارزیابی‌ سریع (Rapid appraisal) در شهر فرخشهر، استان‌ چهارمحال‌ و بختیاری‌ در سال‌ 83 توسط تیم توسعه فرخشهر با مشارکت معاونت پژوهشی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شهرکرد مورد اولویت‌ بندی‌ قرار گرفتند پس‌ از طبقه‌ بندی‌ اطلاعات‌ بدست‌ آمده‌ از نیازسنجی‌ با در نظر گرفتن‌ عوامل‌ محیطی‌، اقتصادی‌، اجتماعی‌، ساختار نهادها و مؤسسات‌ منطقه‌ و همچنین‌ شناسایی‌ عوامل‌ کند کننده‌ و مانع‌ شونده‌ و شرایط زندگی‌ و معیشتی‌ گروههای‌ مختلف‌ مردم و تعیین‌ ارتباط آن‌ با عوامل‌ فوق‌ الذکر مشکلات‌ اولویت‌ بندی‌ و تجزیه‌ و تحلیل‌ شد. در فرآیند مشارکت جامعه، پرسنل ناظر و اجرائی ابتدا هدف از تعیین اولویت هارا برای عموم شرکت کنندگان شرح دادند و تمامی نکات مبهم را روشن ساختند فرآیند مشارکت بصورت تبادل فعال مشارکت یا مشاوره که از پیشنهادات و نظرات مردم در برنامه ریزی و تصمیم گیری استفاده شود دنبال شد و در آخر تصمیم گیری در مورد تعیین اولویت ها به مردم واگذار شد کل فرآیند با مشارکت فعال اعضای تیم توسعه فرخشهر و با نظارت محققین دانشگاه که به عنوان ناظر شرکت داشتند انجام گردید. ابزارهای اولویت بندی در گروههای ذینفع شامل: ماتریس دو بعدی، دیاگرام اولویت ها، جدول تجزیه و تحلیل مشکلات، دیاگرام ون گروهها دینفع، ماتریس اختلاف و همکاری بین گروههای ذینفع بود. یافته ها: در این‌ مطالعه‌ 40 مشکل‌ مردم‌ فرخشهر شناسایی‌ و در 9 گروه طبقه‌ بندی‌ گردید: مشکلات‌ سالمندان‌، فرهنگی‌ هنری‌، عمرانی‌، ورزشی‌، زنان‌، بهداشت‌ روان‌، جوانان‌، امنیت‌ اجتماعی‌ و مشکلات‌ اشتغال طی فرآیند فوق 20 مشکل به عنوان اولویت های اول تا بیستم تعیین گردید. نهایتاَ با تجزیه و تحلیل داده های بدست آمده از ابزار های اولویت بندی، درک صحیحی از مشکلات حائز اولویت، فرصت ها، اقدامات صورت گرفته، راه حل ها و منابع بالقوه و بالفعل پیش رو برای حل مشکلات حاصل شد

Capacity building of Farokhshahr city for recognition and elimination of society problems by mobilization of people in Farrokhshahr development team

زمینه و هدف: تحقیق مشارکتی جامعه محور نوعی از پژوهش علمی است که به تازگی در علوم بهداشتی مورد توجه قرار گرفته است. این نوع تحقیق بر نیازهای جامعه استوار است و باید راه حلی برای مشکلات سلامت در جامعه ارائه کند. در این پروژه تأسیس پایگاه تحقیقات توسعه و ارتقاء سلامت شهر فرخشهر به عنوان یک راهکار جهت توانمندسازی و مشارکت مردم در شناسایی و حل مشکلات و اولویت بندی مشکلات و نیازهای مردم منطقه مورد ارزیابی قرار گرفته است. روش بررسی: این مطالعه یک تحقیق مشارکتی بر مبنای رویکرد برنامه ریزی شده به سلامت جامعه (Planned Approach To Community Health=PATCH) است که در منطقه پایگاه تحقیقات توسعه و ارتقاء سلامت فرخشهر در استان چهار محال و بختیاری با جمعیتی حدود 40000 نفر انجام شد. کل فرآیند شامل پنج مرحله به قرار ذیل بود: 1- بسیج مردمی 2- نیاز سنجی 3 - تعیین اولویت های پژوهشی4 - طراحی برنامه های مداخله ای 5 -ارزشیابی کل فرآیند. کل تحقیق با مشارکت فعال اعضاء تیم توسعه فرخشهر، صاحب نظران، معتمدین محلی، مسئولین شهر و کلیه ذینفعان و با نظارت محققین دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شهرکرد انجام گردید. مرحله بسیج مردمی با دعوت از صاحب نظران و علاقه مندان توسط تیم توسعه فرخشهر، تشکیل 10 کمیته کاری فعال با مشارکت 4000 نفر و تدوین شرح وظایف و شناسایی گروههای ذینفع و اطلاع رسانی به مردم از کانال های مختلف و برگزاری همایش شهر سالم انجام گردید. مرحله نیاز سنجی پس از برگزاری کارگاه پژوهش مشارکتی و پژوهش کیفی توسط معاونت پژوهشی دانشگاه در جهت توانمندسازی اعضای تیم توسعه شروع شد. تیم توسعه با کمک نمایندگان سازمان های مشارکت کننده و نمایندگان دانشگاه پروفایل جامعه را تهیه و اطلاعات دموگرافیک جامعه بدست آمد و سپس نیازسنجی به روش ارزیابی سریع انجام گردید. نهایتاً اولویت بندی نیازها با کمک ماتریس دو بعدی،دیاگرام ون، دیاگرام اولویت ها و جدول تجزیه و تحلیل مشکلات انجام گردید. یافته ها: نتایج این مطالعه به شرح زیر می باشد: 1- تشکیل 10 کمیته کاری فعال در جامعه مورد مطالعه با حدود 4000 عضو فعال، 2- تشکیل کارگاههـای پژوهش مشارکتی و پژوهش کیفی، 3- نیاز سنجی و تعیین 40 مشکل در جامعه مورد مطالعه، 4- اولویت بندی مشکلات شناسایی شده با استفاده از ماتریس دو بعدی و تعیین20 مشکل حائز اولویت. : نتایج این تحقیق نشان داد که در هر جامعه نیازهای مردم با توجه به شرایط فرهنگی، اجتماعی و اقتصادی آن جامعه متفاوت می باشد و لذا توصیه می گردد جهت ارتقاء سلامت، تعیین نیازهای مردم و اولویت بندی آنها با مشارکت خود مردم انجام گردد

Association of social jetlag with gestational diabetes: Qazvin Maternal and Neonatal Metabolic Study

The association of social jetlag (SJL), as a quantitative measure of circadian misalignment, with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome has been reported. The present study was designed to investigate the association of SJL with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Pregnant women with gestational age ≤14 weeks were enrolled in this longitudinal study. The participants with pre-GDM, shift workers and those who used alarms for waking up on free days were excluded from the study. SJL as well as behavioral and psychological parameters were evaluated at enrollment. The participants were categorized based on each 1-h increment of SJL. The association of SJL with the occurrence of GDM in the late second trimester was evaluated using univariate and multivariate methods. In total, 821 pregnant women entered the study, and after omitting individuals with excluding criteria, analyses were performed on 557 participants. The frequencies of SJL < 1 h,1 ≤ SJL < 2 h and SJL ≥ 2 h were 44.7%, 37.2% and 18.1%, respectively. Average sleep duration was higher in SJL < 1 h compared with the two other groups (p < 0.001). During follow-up, 90 (16.1%) women with GDM were identified. SJL ≥ 2 h was associated with a 4.4-5.6 times higher risk of GDM in different models of adjustment (p < 0.05). Pregnant women with high SJL are at a higher risk of GDM. Further studies for evaluating the mechanisms by which SJL affects GDM are warranted

Effect of Cinnamomum Verum Extract on the Amyloid Formation of Hen Egg-white Lysozyme and Study of its Possible Role in Alzheimer’s Disease

Introduction: Diagnosing and treating diseases associated with amyloid fibers remain a great challenge despite of intensive research carried out. One important approach in the development of therapeutics is the use of herbal extracts which are rich in aromatic small molecules. Cinnamomum verum extract (CE) contains proanthocyanidin and cinnamaldehyde, which have been suggested to be capable of directly inhibiting amyloid fibril formation in vitro. This study is aimed at characterizing the inhibitory activity of CE against the fibrillation of hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL). Methods: Acidic pH and high temperatures were used to drive the protein towards amyloid formation. Lysozyme was dissolved at 2 mg/mL in 50mM glycine buffer (pH 2.5), and then incubated at 57 °C for the specified durations while stirred gently by Teflon magnetic bars. Various techniques including thioflavin T, fluorescence, Congo red absorbance assay and AFM micrography were used to characterize the HEWL fibrillation processes. Results: In the absence of CE typical amyloid fibrils (like amyloids formed in Alzheimer disease) became evident after 48 h of incubation. Upon incubation with various extract concentrations in the range of 0.1-1 mg/ml, formation of fibrillar assemblies were significantly inhibited (p<0.05). AFM analysis and MTT assay also confirmed the role of the extract in amyloid inhibition. Our studies showed that the presence of CE did not have any effect on protein stabilization and thus directly interact with amyloid structure and inhibit formation of these structures. Furthermore, a docking experiment showed that a pi-pi interaction may occur between the aromatic component of cinnamaldehyde and W62. Interestingly, W62 is one of the principal aromatic residues that interact with glycine amide, which is an aggregation suppressor of HEWL. Discussion: These observations suggest that aromatic small molecules of CE may directly insert into amyloidogenic core of early aggregates and inhibit amyloid fibril formation by disrupting the pi-pi interactions

Mechanism Understanding of Li-ion Separation Using A Perovskite-Based Membrane

Lithium ions play a crucial role in the energy storage industry. Finding suitable lithium-ion-conductive membranes is one of the important issues of energy storage studies. Hence, a perovskite-based membrane, Lithium Lanthanum Titanate (LLTO), was innovatively implemented in the presence and absence of solvents to precisely understand the mechanism of lithium ion separation. The ion-selective membrane&rsquo;s mechanism and the perovskite-based membrane&rsquo;s efficiency were investigated using Molecular Dynamic (MD) simulation. The results specified that the change in the ambient condition, pH, and temperature led to a shift in LLTO pore sizes. Based on the results, pH plays an undeniable role in facilitating lithium ion transmission through the membrane. It is noticeable that the hydrogen bond interaction between the ions and membrane led to an expanding pore size, from (1.07 &Aring;) to (1.18&ndash;1.20 &Aring;), successfully enriching lithium from seawater. However, this value in the absence of the solvent would have been 1.1 &Aring; at 50 &deg;C. It was found that increasing the temperature slightly impacted lithium extraction. The charge analysis exhibited that the trapping energies applied by the membrane to the first three ions (Li+, K+, and Na+) were more than the ions&rsquo; hydration energies. Therefore, Li+, K+, and Na+ were fully dehydrated, whereas Mg2+ was partially dehydrated and could not pass through the membrane. Evaluating the membrane window diameter, and the combined effect of the three key parameters (barrier energy, hydration energy, and binding energy) illustrates that the required energy to transport Li ions through the membrane is higher than that for other monovalent cations