Relationship between serum level of interleukin-2 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and disease activity in comparison with control group

Background: Despite the large number of surveys, there are not any validated biomarkers for SLE disease activity till now. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum level of IL-2 in patients with SLE and disease activity in comparison with control group. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 73 patients with lupus and 73 healthy subjects referred to the rheumatology clinic of 5 Azar Hospital in Gorgan (North of Iran).They were studied via convenience sampling during 2011-2012. Blood samples were taken from both groups and serum levels of interleukin -2 measured by Avi Bion Human IL-2 ELISA kit. Serum Level of IL-2 greater than 15 pg/ml defined positive and lesser than this amount defined negative. Disease activity evaluated with SLE disease activity index. Score greater than or equal to three or four defined as active disease. Data analysis conducted by SPSS software (version 16) and by using descriptive statistics and statistical tests. Results: Serum level of IL-2 was positive in 45.2% of sample studied and negative in 54.8% in case group, while in control group, serum level of IL-2 only in 11% of sample studied was positive and in 89% was negative. Statistical analysis indicated a significant relationship between serum level of IL-2 and the SLE disease activity index (p=0.025). Conclusion: This study showed the relationship between serum levels of IL-2 and disease activity, so this biomarker can be used as a clinical indicator for assessing disease activity in patients with SLE

Ecosystem physio-phenology revealed using circular statistics

Quantifying responses of vegetation phenology to climate variability is a key prerequisite to predict shifts in how ecosystem dynamics due to climate change. So far, many studies have focused on responses of classical phenological events (e.g. budburst or flowering) to climatic variability for individual species. Comparatively little is known on physio-phenological events such as the timing of the maximum gross primary production (DOYGPPmax). However, understanding this type of physio-phenological phenomena is an essential element in predicting the response of the terrestrial carbon cycle to climate variability. In this study, we aim to understand how DOYGPPmax depends on climate drivers across 52 eddy-covariance (EC) sites in the FLUXNET network for different regions of the world. Most phenological studies rely on linear methods that cannot be generalized across both hemispheres and therefore do not allow for deriving general rules that can be applied for future predictions. Here we explore a new class of circular-linear (here called circular) regression approach that may show a path ahead. Circular regression allows relating circular variables (in our case phenological events) to linear predictor variables (e.g. climate conditions). As a proof of concept, we compare the performance of linear and circular regression to recover original coefficients of a predefined circular model on artificial and EC data. We then quantify the sensitivity of DOYGPPmax to air temperature, short-wave incoming radiation, precipitation and vapor pressure deficit using circular regressions. Finally, we evaluate the predictive power of the regression models for different vegetation types. Our results show that the DOYGPPmax of each FLUXNET site has a unique signature of climatic sensitivities. Overall radiation and temperature are the most relevant controlling factors of DOYGPPmax across sites. The circular approach gives us new insights at the site level. In a Mediterranean shrub-land, for instance, we find that the two growing seasons are controlled by different climatic factors. Although the sensitivity of the DOYGPPmax to the climate drivers is very site specific, it is possible to extrapolate the circular regression model across vegetation types. From a methodological point of view, our results reveal that circular regression is a robust alternative to conventional phenological analytic frameworks. In particular global analyses can benefit, where phase shifts play a role or double peaked growing seasons may occur

Factors affecting the quality of work-life of nurses: a correlational study

Background Quality of work-life is an important factor in the recruitment and retention of the nursing workforce and their work productivity. Aims This study aimed to identify factors that affect the quality of work-life of nurses. Methods In this correlational study, 239 nurses employed in a tertiary teaching hospital in Iran completed the study questionnaires, including the quality of work-life questionnaire. The associations between potential independent variables and quality of work-life were examined using multivariate regression analysis. Results Participants were mostly women (80.33%) and within the age range of 30–45 years (71.54%). Working in other hospitals, having a second job and health information-seeking behaviours were significant predictors of quality of work-life, explaining 28.68% of the total variance in quality of work-life of nurses. Conclusions Improving working standards may prevent nurses from working extra hours or in different occupations. This, along with facilitating the health information-seeking behaviours of nurses, may help improve their quality of work-life by maintaining a better work-life balance and acquiring knowledge and skills that can help with effective management of work and life commitments. </jats:sec

Seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus among women of reproductive age in iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) able to cause infection for an entire lifetime. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine seroprevalence of CMV among women of reproductive age in Iran. Methods: English and Persian databases such as Web of Science (WOS), PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, SID, Iran doc, Iran Medex, Magiran, and Medlib were searched (from 2008 to 2017) accurately using the keywords: Cytomegalovirus, Pregnant women or Pregnancy, Epidemiology, Prevalence and Iran. Results: Results of 15 studies with total samples of 5253 persons from 2008 to 2017 were combined and meta-analyzed. The pooled prevalence rate of IgG among women was estimated 90 (95 CI: 87-93). The highest prevalence rate of IgG was in Tehran, Rasht, Mashhad and Yasoj, all 100 (95 CI: 100-100), and the lowest prevalence was in Jahrom 0.62 (95 CI: 53-71). The overall prevalence rate of IgM among women was estimated at 0.06 (95 CI: 0.03-0.13). The highest prevalence rate of IgM was in Kerman 0.34 (95 CI: 0.29-0.39) and Mashhad 0.25 (95 CI: 0.2-0.31), and the lowest prevalence was in Yasoj 0 (95 CI: 0.00-0.00) Conclusion: The prevalence of immunity in Iran, is satisfactory. Nevertheless, to maintain and increase the level of immunity across the country, it is necessary to routinely screen the women of reproductive ages across the country. © 2019, Iranian Journal of Public Health. All rights reserved

Study of parasites occurrence and intensity in fishes of Anzali Lagoon

Tish survey prolonged from summer 2011 trough summer 2012. During this period 574 samples of different fish species were investigated for their parasites. Totally 30 species of parasites isolated of the fishes. Some of the isolated parasites are recorded for the first time in Iran. Rafidascaris acus Orientocreadium siluri, Silurotaenia siluri, Acanthocephalus lucii , Argulus foliaceus has recorded for the first time from European catfish, Silurus glanis, and Dactylogyrus inexpectatus has recorded for the first time from Gibel Carp, Carassius auratus gibelio, in Anzali wetland. Statistical comparison of parasites infections and intensity between the different area of Anzali wetland were done. Infection of Pike, Esox lucius, to Diplostomum spathaceum, Raphidascaris acus and Monogenean in western parts of wetland were significantly different from the Eastern and Central areas (p<0.05). So based on the data have concluded the eastern and central regions of the wetland are more polluted than the western part. Comparing the results of the present study with before ones showed that the composition of parasite species has been changed over time, while the prevalence, intensity and abundance of parasites have been increased. It may be due to changing environmental conditions such as increasing discharge of effluent, eutrophication of the wetland. This results accents to necessity of reconstruction of Anzali wetland with preference of eastern and central regions

Undergraduate Research Participation in Electrical Engineering

During the 1990-2003 summers the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Maine will offer ten undergraduate students the opportunity to actively participate in research. Students will receive financial awards plus a subsistence allowance. The available research projects include (1) Environmental Sensors; (2) Intelligent Systems for Automation; (3) Communications Devices and Applications; (4) Motion Control; (5) Microprocessor/Instrumentation Applications; (6) Growth and Characterization of Thin Film Materials; and (7) Power Systems Applications. At least five students will come from institutions where research opportunities are limited and at least four students will be women, minorities or students with disabilities. Students chosen for the program will have displayed a high degree of initiative and independence of thought in both laboratories and course work. Student research projects are chosen to match the student\u27s interest and educational level. In addition to extensive University facilities, students will also have access to facilities at various nearby industries such as Sensor Research and Development Corporation, BIODE Corporation, Bangor Hydro Electric and Central Maine Power Companies, James River, Champion, and Scott Paper Companies, Digital Equipment Corporation, Fairchild and National Semiconductor. At the program culmination a written report and an oral seminar are required from the student. Three academic credits are awarded to the student upon satisfactory completion of the program

The three major axes of terrestrial ecosystem function.

The leaf economics spectrum1,2 and the global spectrum of plant forms and functions3 revealed fundamental axes of variation in plant traits, which represent different ecological strategies that are shaped by the evolutionary development of plant species2. Ecosystem functions depend on environmental conditions and the traits of species that comprise the ecological communities4. However, the axes of variation of ecosystem functions are largely unknown, which limits our understanding of how ecosystems respond as a whole to anthropogenic drivers, climate and environmental variability4,5. Here we derive a set of ecosystem functions6 from a dataset of surface gas exchange measurements across major terrestrial biomes. We find that most of the variability within ecosystem functions (71.8%) is captured by three key axes. The first axis reflects maximum ecosystem productivity and is mostly explained by vegetation structure. The second axis reflects ecosystem water-use strategies and is jointly explained by variation in vegetation height and climate. The third axis, which represents ecosystem carbon-use efficiency, features a gradient related to aridity, and is explained primarily by variation in vegetation structure. We show that two state-of-the-art land surface models reproduce the first and most important axis of ecosystem functions. However, the models tend to simulate more strongly correlated functions than those observed, which limits their ability to accurately predict the full range of responses to environmental changes in carbon, water and energy cycling in terrestrial ecosystems7,8