A Systematic Review of Phytochemical and Phytotherapeutic Characteristics of Bitter Almond

Bitter almond is one of the medicinal plants that have been used to prevent and treat diseases since many centuries ago. Bitter almond essential oil can be effectively used to heal wounds, hemorrhoids and hair loss, relieve joint pain, facilitate delivery, and strengthen and condition hairs. Moreover, oral use of bitter almond seed has been demonstrated to cause antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer effects because of containing certain compounds such as amygdalin. However, there have been some challenges in investigations conducted to discover bitter almond-based oral, herbal drugs to treat different diseases such as cancer because of cyanide-induced poisoning, partly precluding use of this plant. This study was conducted to comprehensively review the traditional uses, phytochemical compounds, and therapeutic actions of bitter almond and its compound as well as the side effects due to use of them

A Review of Machine Learning-based Security in Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing (CC) is revolutionizing the way IT resources are delivered to users, allowing them to access and manage their systems with increased cost-effectiveness and simplified infrastructure. However, with the growth of CC comes a host of security risks, including threats to availability, integrity, and confidentiality. To address these challenges, Machine Learning (ML) is increasingly being used by Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) to reduce the need for human intervention in identifying and resolving security issues. With the ability to analyze vast amounts of data, and make high-accuracy predictions, ML can transform the way CSPs approach security. In this paper, we will explore some of the most recent research in the field of ML-based security in Cloud Computing. We will examine the features and effectiveness of a range of ML algorithms, highlighting their unique strengths and potential limitations. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of ML in cloud security and to shed light on the exciting possibilities that this emerging field has to offer.Comment: This work has been submitted to the IEEE for possible publication. Copyright may be transferred without notice, after which this version may no longer be accessibl

Assessment on Quantum skills of employed nurses in Ayatollah Kashani and Hajar Hospitals of Shahrekord city in 2015

Background and aims: Skills of nurses due to their professional sensitivity and their relation in public health should continually be monitored. Therefore, the present study was carried out to determine the Quantum skills of nurses employed in Ayatollah Kashani and Hajar hospitals of Shahrekord city. Methods: This cross- sectional descriptive - analytic study was performed in 2016 in Ayatollah Kashani and Hajar hospitals of Shahrekord city. One hundred nurses selected by stratified random sampling and data were collected using a valid questionnaire. The data were analyzed by SPSS 21 software through Chi-Square and independent t-test at the significant level of P<0.05. Results: The Grade Point Average (GPA) of each septel quantum skills including seeing, thinking, feeling, knowing, acting, trusting and being skills in nurses were significantly higher than criterion mean score (P>0.05). Totally, the GPA of nurses’ quantum skills was 136.69±10.07 that had a significant differenc compared to Criterion Mean Score (CMS=105) (P<0.001). Conclusion: According to the rathered results, it can be stated that nurses employed in Ayatollah Kashani and Hajar hospitals of Shahrekor city had a desirable status in the septel quantum skills

Force measurement capability for robotic assisted minimally invasive surgery systems

An automated laparoscopic instrument capable of non-invasive measurement of tip/tissue interaction forces for direct application in robotic assisted minimally invasive surgery systems_ is introduced in this paper. It has the capability to measure normal grasping forces as well as lateral interaction forces without any sensor mounted on the tip jaws. Further to non-invasive actuation of the tip, the proposed instrument is also able to change the grasping direction during surgical operation. Modular design of the instrument allows conversion between surgical modalities (e.g., grasping, cutting, and dissecting). The main focus of this paper is on evaluation of the grasping force capability of the proposed instrument. The mathematical formulation of fenestrated insert is presented and its non-linear behaviour is studied. In order to measure the stiffness of soft tissues, a device was developed that is also described in this paper. Tissue characterisation experiments were conducted and results are presented and analysed here. The experimental results verify the capability of the proposed instrument in accurately measuring grasping forces and in characterising artificial tissue samples of varying stiffness.<br /

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of Referee Self-Efficacy Scale (REFS)

Introduction: Despite the importance of refereeing judgments and the sensitivity of referees' role in holding sports competitions and the impact of referees' decisions on the outcome of the game, little research has been done on various aspects of the referees' profession and occupation. The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the self-efficacy scale in referees.Methods: The present research, was a descriptive-correlational study. For this purpose, 228 referees of team and individual sports completed the Persian version of the self-efficacy scale in referees. First, using the open-translation method, the accuracy of the Persian version of the questionnaire was confirmed, and then to determine the construct validity of the questionnaire, confirmatory factor analysis based on structural equation modeling was used, and to determine internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used. Also, for the time reliability of the questions, intra-class correlation with the test-retest method was used.Results: The results showed that the goodness of fit index and the comparative fit index are higher than (0.90). Time reliability (0.76) and Cronbach's alpha coefficient for self-efficacy and its dimensions above 0.7 (acceptable index value) were obtained.Conclusion: Based on the results, the Persian version of the self-efficacy scale in referees has structural validity and internal and temporal reliability desirable and acceptable for referees of team and individual sports and therefore can be used as a valid and reliable tool to assess the self-efficacy of Iranian referees

The efficacy of 1% Betadine mouthwash on the incidence of dry socket after mandibular third molar surgery

Dry socket or alveolar osteitis is a delayed healing of alveolar bone after exodontia causing moderate to severe pain 2-4 days after extraction of teeth. Antibacterial agents such as antibiotics and chlorhexidine have been previously proved to prevent or reduce the incidence of dry socket. Betadine is a mixture of iodine and povidone which has bactericidal, antifungal and antiviral effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative povidone iodine 1% mouthwash before surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molar, however age, gender and oral hygiene were also considered. 189 patients who needed surgical extraction of Pell and Gregory class A and B mandibular third molars were included in this study. The patients who were not willing to participate in the study, took, women who took oral contraceptives or were in the first 22 days of menstrual cycle were excluded. Patients were randomly assigned to control or test group. 97 patients in the test group took preoperative povidone iodine 1% mouthwash and 92 patients in the control group didn?t take any antibiotic or mouthwash. Patients were examined in days 3 and 7 postoperatively for incidence of alveolar osteitis. Chi-square test didn?t show any significant relation between dry socket incidence and gender (p value: 0.848) and Oral hygiene (p value: 0.866). However, it revealed a significant relation between age and dry socket incidence (p value: 0.003) and patients older than 30 were reported to have higher incidence of dry socket. Independent T-Test showed a significant difference between the test and control group in incidence of dry socket (p value: 0.036). Based on the results of this study povidone iodine 1% mouthwash can decrease dry socket incidence also as the age increases, the incidence of dry socket becomes higher

PREDSTAVLJANJE PRAKTIČNOGA OKVIRA ZA OCJENJIVANJE I USPOREDBU INFORMATIČKE PISMENOSTI RAVNATELJA I NASTAVNIKA U IRANSKIM ŠKOLAMA

The major goal of this research is to present a practical assessment and comparison of the ICT literacy of principals and teachers in Iran’s schools. A group sample of principals, 361 persons, and a group sample of teachers, 367 persons, was selected through a taxonomic random sampling method. The research method was a survey in which questionnaires and interviews were used. To determine the questionnaires’ reliability, SPSS software was used. Cronbach’s alpha was more than 80% for the skill level measurement concepts. For an analysis of the data, the Chi-square test was used by exploiting two-dimensional tables. An analysis of the data shows that for all five factors, there is a meaningful difference between the ICT literacy of principals and teachers. The general result of the research shows that the principals’ ICT literacy for all factors is higher and greater than the teachers’.Glavni cilj ovoga istraživanja jest predstavljanje praktičnoga okvira za ocjenjivanje i usporedbu informatičke pismenosti ravnatelja i učitelja u iranskim školama. Skupni uzorak od 361 ravnatelja i skupni uzorak od 367 učitelja odabran je taksonomskom metodom slučajnog uzorkovanja. Za metodu istraživanja odabrana je anketa te su za posebne ciljeve istraživanja izrađeni upitnici i intervjui. Za određivanje pouzdanosti upitnika korišten je računalni program SPSS. Koeficijent Cronbach Alpha je bio veći od 80% kod mjerenja razine vještine. Za analizu podataka korišten je hi-kvadrat test uz upotrebu dvodimenzionalnih tablica. Analiza podataka pokazala je da u svih pet ispitivanih kategorija postoje značajne razlike u informatičkoj pismenosti između ravnatelja i učitelja. Opći rezultat istraživanja pokazao je da je informatička pismenost ravnatelja u svim kategorijama bolja i veća od učiteljsk

Clinical outcome and cost of treatment and care for neonates less than 1000 grams admitted to Vali-e ASR Hospital

Background: The aim of this study is to estimate the cost of care and treatment for extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates admitted to a teaching and referral hospital. This cost estimation project can help health policy makers and planners make decisions and develop plans for perinatal service staging programs and better management of NICUs (Neonatal Intensive Care Units). Methods: This cohort study performed on 50 extremely low birth weight neonates (w . 1000gr) born in Vali-e Asr Hospital, Tehran-Iran in the period of March 2012 to September 2013. This teaching and referral hospital had 15 NICU beds as well as an active neonatal growth and development follow-up clinic with a pediatric neurodevelopment specialist during the period of the study. Cases would undergo initial developmental visits and preventative measures immediately after being admitted to the ward. Also after discharge, they were followed up monthly for six months and then every two months, during first year of life. Results: Overalls, 23 newborns -46% of ELBW and 40% of total neonatal mortality rate (that amounted 55) died during hospital stay. Beside hospitalization, the major part of expenses was related to medication and medical supplies. All neonates needing rehabilitation underwent this type of intervention for one year. The mean cost of rehabilitation in neonates with no insurance coverage was 6700 US Dollars per year, which is reduced by half (3350 US Dollars) when covered by insurance. Conclusion: Medication, medical supplies and equipment cost was significantly high. This is especially due to the fact that the present types of insurances do not cover such expenses very well, forcing parents to pay themselves. Insurance systems are expected to take this issue into immediate account

EFFICACY AND MECHANISMS OF MEDICINAL PLANTS AS IMMUNOTHERAPY IN TREATMENT OF ALLERGIC RHINITIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Allergic rhinitis is a common disease of immune system that negatively affects general health, quality of life, and social relationships. In the recent years, many studies have been conducted to discover novel treatments for this disease particularly using natural products. Here, we review findings of recent studies that harness medicinal plants and phyto-therapies in oriental medicine that have effectively reduced allergic rhinitis complications. We also assess the use of medicinal plants and their derivatives in oriental medicine to treat allergic rhinitis. In addition, these agents have been reported to be used in combination with each other or separately as complementary therapies and even, in some cases, alternative therapies instead of chemical drugs. These plants display their anti-allergy effects through affecting immunoglobulin and inhibiting different cytokines and interleukins. Medicinal plants and traditional approaches can still offer new therapeutic alternatives to researchers and pharmacists so that these alternatives may further contribute to allergic rhinitis drug discovery