Effect of Curing Time on Polymerization Rate of Bulk-Fill Composite Resins

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare polymerization depth of two bulk-fill and one conventional composite cured for different times.Methods: This in vitro experimental study was conducted on 54 composite samples (2×4×10mm) fabricated of Tetric N-Ceram bulk-fill, x-tra fil bulk-fill, and Grandio conventional composite cured for 20, 30, and 40 seconds. The microhardness of samples was measured at 0.1, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, and 4.5mm depths using a Vickers hardness tester. The results were analyzed using ANOVA, t-test, and Tukey’s test.Results: The x-tra fil, Tetric N-Ceram and Grandio had maximum microhardness at 0.1mm depth after curing for 40 seconds. The microhardness decreased as the depth of composite increased. Microhardness of x-tra fil was higher than that of Tetric N Ceram. By increasing the curing time, the microhardness value of x-tra fil significantly increased up to 2mm depth. In Tetric N-Ceram, by increasing the curing time from 20 to 30 seconds microhardness increased significantly (P<0.05) by up to 3.5mm depth. By increase from 20 to 30 seconds, no significant change occurred in microhardness of Grandio samples at 0.1 and 2mm depths, but further increase from 30 to 40 seconds significantly increased the microhardness at all depths (P<0.05).Conclusion: The maximum microhardness was obtained for x-tra fil at 0.1mm depth following 40 seconds of curing. Microhardness in deep areas (>2mm depth) depends on the type of composite, curing time and depth. Overall, 20 seconds of curing for x-tra fil and 30 seconds for Tetric N-Ceram seem appropriate

Barriers and Solutions to Commercialization of Research Findings in Schools of Agriculture in Iran: A Qualitative Approach

The transformation process from idea to product and finally to wealth creation is one of the major problems in the agriculture sector in Iran. This study used a qualitative-exploratory approach to investigate the barriers and the solutions, which were derived from the interview results of our study, to commercialization of research findings in Iranian schools of agriculture. The data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews. The results showed that the highest ranking barriers to commercialization were inappropriate perspectives and policy-making, financial-investment barriers, mistrust, and poor communication; the barriers related to the participation of the private sector were among the lowest ranking items. The top ranking solutions for commercialization were related to planning, legislation, policy-making, needs assessment, goal setting, and prioritization. The technical-specialized solutions were the lowest ranking items

COVID-19 AND FEAR, WHICH COMES FIRST?

Today people have a few unanswered questions in their mind, such as "Do negative emotions will co-survive with the COVID-19 pandemic? Which one is worse? Which one will disappear quicker? Is there any connection between negative emotions and being infected by COVID-19 or the severity of infected individual\u27s symptoms ? How are we supposed to live with COVID-19 and adapt our emotional system to the virus for more than one upcoming year? These uncertainties could result in massive pressure on people. While there is no clear consensus regarding what establishes psychological stress on an individual, the effect of negative affect and psychological stress on increased susceptibility to disease due to altered immune functions is well established. Here we are going through the possible effect of emotions associated with the present pandemic on COVID-19 course of disease and severity of symptoms

COVID-19 AND FEAR, WHICH COMES FIRST?

Today people have a few unanswered questions in their mind, such as "Do negative emotions will co-survive with the COVID-19 pandemic? Which one is worse? Which one will disappear quicker? Is there any connection between negative emotions and being infected by COVID-19 or the severity of infected individual\u27s symptoms ? How are we supposed to live with COVID-19 and adapt our emotional system to the virus for more than one upcoming year? These uncertainties could result in massive pressure on people. While there is no clear consensus regarding what establishes psychological stress on an individual, the effect of negative affect and psychological stress on increased susceptibility to disease due to altered immune functions is well established. Here we are going through the possible effect of emotions associated with the present pandemic on COVID-19 course of disease and severity of symptoms

The effect of involved Aspergillus species on galactomannan in bronchoalveolar lavage of patients with invasive aspergillosis

PURPOSE: The detection of galactomannan (GM) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid is an important surrogate marker for the early diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of invasive aspergillosis (IA), regardless of the involved species of Aspergillus. Here, we utilized the Platelia Aspergillus GM enzyme immunoassay (Bio-Rad) to evaluate the GM index in BAL fluid samples from patients with proven, probable or putative IA due to Aspergillusflavus versus Aspergillusfumigatus. METHODOLOGY: In a prospective study between 2009 and 2015, 116 BAL samples were collected from suspected IA patients referred to two university hospitals in Tehran, Iran. KEY FINDINGS: According to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Mycoses Study Group and Blot criteria, 35 patients were classified as IA patients, of which 33 cases tested positive for GM above 0.5 and, among these patients, 22 had a GM index >/=1. Twenty-eight were culture positive for A. flavus and seven for A. fumigatus. The GM index for A. flavus cases was between 0.5-6.5 and those of A. fumigatus ranged from 1 to 6.5. The sensitivity and specificity of a GM index >/=0.5 in cases with A. flavus were 86 and 88 % and for A. fumigatus patients were 100 and 73 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: Overall, the mean GM index in patients with A. fumigatus (3.1) was significantly higher than those of A. flavus (1.6; P-value=0.031) and the sensitivity of GM lower for A. flavus when compared to A. fumigatus. This finding has implications for diagnosis in hospitals and countries with a high proportion of A. flavus infections

Propagation and stock enhancement of silver pomfret (Pamus argenteus) in the north west of Persian Gulf

This study was conducted in the Persian Gulf (Coastal waters of Khuzestan province) from March 2009 to April 2010. The 237 specimen of Silver pomfert P. argenteus collected. Maximum of mature brooders at Jun and maximum of hatched eggs obtained at same month. Artificial fertilization was successful. Absolut fecundity was between 19000 to 38000.maximum of hatch was 51 percent. Maximum of fertilization was 32 percent and continued development of larvae to 35 days. Average of fertilized eggs was 1.1 mm. newly hatched larvae were 2.2 to 2.4 mm. The all Silver Pomfret larvae were dead at prude 35 days gently. Suppose n enhancement phase wasn't performed

A Case Based-Shared Teaching Approach in Undergraduate Medical Curriculum: A Way for Integration in Basic and Clinical Sciences

To present a multiple-instructor, active-learning strategy in the undergraduate medical curriculum. This educational research is a descriptive one. Shared teaching sessions, were designed for undergraduate medical students in six organ-system based courses. Sessions that involved in-class discussions of integrated clinical cases were designed implemented and moderated by at least 3 faculties (clinicians and basic scientists). The participants in this study include the basic sciences medical students of The Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Students’ reactions were assessed using an immediate post-session evaluation form on a 5-point Likert scale. Six two-hour sessions for 2 cohorts of students, 2013 and 2014 medical students during their two first years of study were implemented from April 2014 to March 2015. 17 faculty members participated in the program, 21 cases were designed, and participation average was 60 % at 6 sessions. Students were highly appreciative of this strategy. The majority of students in each course strongly agreed that this learning practice positively contributed to their learning (78%) and provided better understanding and application of the material learned in an integrated classroom course (74%). They believed that the sessions affected their view about medicine (73%), and should be continued in future courses (80%). The percentage demonstrates the average of all courses. The program helped the students learn how to apply basic sciences concepts to clinical medicine. Evaluation of the program indicated that students found the sessions beneficial to their learning

Clinical Breast Cancer Registry of IR. Iran (CBCR-IR):Study Protocol and First Results

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC), as a significant global health problem, is the most common cancer in women. Despite the importance of clinical cancer registries in improving the quality of cancer care and cancer research, there are few reports on them from low- and middle-income countries. We established a multicenter clinical breast cancer registry in Iran (CBCR-IR) to collect data on BC cases, the pattern of care, and the quality-of-care indicators in different hospitals across the country.METHODS: We established a clinical cancer registry in 12 provinces of Iran. We defined the organizational structure, developed minimal data sets and data dictionaries, verified data sources and registration processes, and developed the necessary registry software. During this registry, we studied the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with cancer who were admitted from 2014 onwards.RESULTS: We registered 13086 BC cases (7874 eligible cases) between 1.1.2014 and 1.1.2022. Core needle biopsy from the tumor (61.25%) and diagnostic mammography (68.78%) were the two most commonly used diagnostic methods. Stage distribution was 2.03% carcinoma in situ, 12% stage I, 44.65% stage II, 21.32% stage III, and 4.61% stage IV; stage information was missing in 1532 patients (19.46%). Surgery (95.01%) and chemotherapy (79.65%) were the most common treatments for all patients.CONCLUSION: The information provided by this registry can be used to evaluate and improve the quality of care for BC patients. It will be scaled up to the national level as an important resource for measuring quality of care and conducting clinical cancer research in Iran.</p