Verifying the Integrity of Hyperlinked Information Using Linked Data and Smart Contracts

We present an approach to verify off-chained information using Linked Data, Smart Contracts, and RDF graph hashes stored on a Distributed Ledger. We use the notion of a Linked Pedigree, i.e. a decentralised dataset for storing hyperlinked information, as modelling foundation. We evaluate our approach by comparing different ways to build the Smart Contract. We develop a cost model and show, based on our implementation, that for managing multiple Linked Pedigree instances, a single larger Smart Contract is superior to multiple smaller Smart Contracts for supply chains shorter than 50 participants

The prevalence of obesity in school children of Zahedan-Iran; Double burden of weight disorders

Background: Obesity has a permanent effect on childrens' health and acts as a major risk factor for chronic diseases. Therefore considering children BMI is a vital parameter at each visit. Objectives: This study was performed to assess the prevalence of obesity and its determinants in school children of Zahedan in Iran. Zahedan is the capital of Sistan-and-Balouchestan province known to have the highest prevalence of underweight in Iranian children. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 3582 school children, among which 1786 were girls and 1796 boys in 2012. The students aged 6 to 13 years old and selected based on a stratified random method. The body mass index (BMI) was measured for each student and being overweight/obesity was determined based on CDC 2000 definitions. Prevalence proportions were estimated by weighing the sample. The study was performed at primary and guidance schools of Zahedan. Samples were stratified from two geographic regions of Zahedan (Zone 1 and 2). Results: In the sample, 78.9 were under 85th percentile, 11.8 were overweight (85th - 95th percentile) and 9.3 were obese (> 95th percentile). Weighted estimate for the prevalence of obesity/overweight in girls, boys and all 6 - 13 years old students were 16.2, 18.4 and 17.4, respectively. Presence of overweight/obesity was related to school type (private to public schools OR = 2.13, 1.80 - 2.52) and increasing age (OR = 1.12, 1.04 - 1.20). Conclusions: A high prevalence of obesity was found in Zahedan students. Concurrent high prevalence of obesity/overweight and underweight demonstrates amplitude of weight problems in school children. There is an urgent need for special health programs to conduct proper diagnosis and management of obesity in Zahedan. © 2015, Iranian Society of Pediatrics

Quantum Correlations in Neutrino Oscillation: Coherence and Entanglement

In this paper, we consider the quantum correlations, coherence and entanglement, in neutrino oscillation. We find that the $l_{1}$-norm as a coherence measure is equal to sum of the three possible concurrences for measuring the entanglement among different flavor modes which were calculated in the paper by (M. Blasone et al., Europhys. Lett., {\bf 112}, 20007). Our result shows that the origin of the flavor entanglement in neutrino oscillation is the same as that of quantum coherence. Furthermore, in the wave packet framework, the variation of $l_{1}$-norm is investigated by varying the wave packet width $\sigma_{x}$. As it is expected the amount of coherence increases by $\sigma_{x}$ due to the increase in the overlapping of the mass eigenstates.Comment: 12 pages; 1 figur

Breast cancer in Iranian woman: Incidence by age group, morphology and trends

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the first cause of cancer death in women worldwide, with infiltrating duct carcinoma as the most common morphology. This study aimed to investigate trend of breast cancer incidence by age groups and histological changes in Iranian women between 2003 and 2008. Materials and Methods: This is analytic study, carried out based on re-analysis of the Cancer Registry Center report of health deputy for women's breast cancer in Iran during a 6-year period (2003-2008). Statistical analysis for incidence time trends and morphology change percentage carried out joinpoint regression analysis using the software Joinpoint Regression Program. Results: A total of 36,340 cases were reported for Iranian women in the six years. Analytical trend showed an increasing incidence trend with significant annual percentage change (APC) of 15.2 (CI: 11.6 to 18.8). The lowest and highest significant increased trend were related to age groups of 40 to 44 years and above 85 years, respectively; with APCs of 13.0 and 25.1, respectively. Of total cases, 78.7 of cases were infiltrating duct carcinoma, decreasing from 82.0 in 2003 to 76.6 in 2008, which was significant with an APC equal to -1.76 (CI:-2.7 to -0.8). Conclusions: The incidence trend of breast cancer is rising in Iranian women. The highest incidence was observed in the age groups 45-65 and 80-85. In conclusion, to reduce breast cancer incidence and its burden, preventive and screening programs for breast cancer, especially in young women, are recommended in Iran

On the Wang-Landau Method for Off-Lattice Simulations in the "Uniform" Ensemble

We present a rigorous derivation for off-lattice implementations of the so-called "random-walk" algorithm recently introduced by Wang and Landau [PRL 86, 2050 (2001)]. Originally developed for discrete systems, the algorithm samples configurations according to their inverse density of states using Monte-Carlo moves; the estimate for the density of states is refined at each simulation step and is ultimately used to calculate thermodynamic properties. We present an implementation for atomic systems based on a rigorous separation of kinetic and configurational contributions to the density of states. By constructing a "uniform" ensemble for configurational degrees of freedom--in which all potential energies, volumes, and numbers of particles are equally probable--we establish a framework for the correct implementation of simulation acceptance criteria and calculation of thermodynamic averages in the continuum case. To demonstrate the generality of our approach, we perform sample calculations for the Lennard-Jones fluid using two implementation variants and in both cases find good agreement with established literature values for the vapor-liquid coexistence locus.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figure

Structure and internal consistency evaluation of personality inventory for DSM-5 in an Iranian population

Introduction: The DSM-5 Personality Disorder Questionnaire (PID-5) is a diagnostic tool created for the purpose of diagnostic-based diagnosis in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).Considering the need for valid instruments in the field of diagnosis of personality disorders in Farsi, the present study was designed to translate and evaluate the structure and internal consistency of the Personality Inventory for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5th Edition (PID-5). Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study had done in 2017. After translating PID-5 via forward and backward translation method, the data gathering have been started. Participants were 285 (66 women) Community-dwelling adults. Results: The mean alpha coefficient for PID-5 in the current study was .74 ranging from .52 (Suspiciousness) to .90 (Eccentricity). The majority of scales (i.e., 18) had alphas above .70. The range of Cronbach's alpha coefficient for Domains were 0.70 (Antagonism) to 0.84 (Psychoticism). Additionally, five factors tructure of PID-5 was replicated in Iranian culture. Conclusion: This study provided initial support for the structural validity, internal consistency and cross-cultural similarity of The Persian version of PID-5. So, the PID-5 can be used in research and diagnosis of personality traits in Iranian society confidently. © 2019, Semnan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

In vitro characterization of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived motor neurons induced by epigenetic modifiers

Background: Motor neurons (MNs) are distinct types of cells in the dorso-ventral axis of the spinal cord. These cells are developed in the presence of two main morphogens, including Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and retinoic acid (RA). On the other hand, human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) are known as a multipotent type of cells with neural differentiation capacity. In this regard, the aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the expression of MN-related genes and the potent epigenetic regulatory genes involved in neurogenesis, including Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH-2) and P300, during hBM-MSC differentiation into MN-like cells, using RA and Shh. After isolating and inducing the cells with Shh and RA, the results were evaluated using immunocytochemistry and qRT-PCR. Results: Our findings showed that the treated cells could express choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and insulin gene enhancer binding protein-1 (Islet-1) antigens at the protein level, 2 weeks after induction. Moreover, at the second week after induction, the induced cells expressed MN-related genes (ChAT and ISLET-1) and epigenetic regulatory genes (EZH-2 and P300) at significant levels compared to the control (non-treated BM-MSCs) and to the induced cells at the first week (day 7). In addition, the expression of EZH-2, as a histone-modifying gene, was also significantly upregulated at the first week compared to the control. No significant upregulation was detected in the expression of motor neuron and pancreas homeobox 1 (MNX-1) in the treated groups compared to the control group. Conclusion: We concluded that epigenetic modifiers, P300 and EZH-2, are important mediators for regulating the process of motor neuron differentiation induced by RA and Shh. © 2021, The Author(s)

The inappropriateness of brain MRI prescriptions: a study from Iran

Background: Inappropriate prescriptions can lead to adverse consequences for patients. It also imposes excessive cost on the patients, payers and health systems. The current study aimed at estimating the rate of inappropriate brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) prescriptions and their financial burden in Iran. Methods: Using systematic stratified sampling method, this cross-sectional study recruited 385 participants from three public teaching hospitals in Shiraz, Iran. Demographic information, questions related to brain MRI prescription and its indications checklist were collected using study-specific data collection tools. The completed indications checklist was compared to the appropriateness status table of indications and scenarios to detect the percent of the appropriateness of prescriptions. Results: About 21 percentage of total brain MRI prescriptions are inappropriate. Previous treatment, number of referrals to physician, having other diagnostic tests and the applicant of MRI (P < 0.01) had significant relationships with prescription appropriateness. The estimated financial burden of inappropriate brain MRIs in Shiraz teaching hospitals was 99,988 US dollar in 2017. Conclusions: More than one-fifth of brains MRIs were inappropriate (i.e. prescriptions without medical indications). It caused 99,988 United States Dollar (USD) financial burden which is 17 times that of Iran's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. To better allocate resources for the provision of MRI services to health system, rationing policies for controlling moral hazard and reducing provider induced demand can be helpful