Black hole solutions to Einstein-Bel-Robinson gravity

By employing a combination of perturbative analytic methods, we study the physical properties of a static-spherically symmetric black hole in the framework of the recently proposed Einstien-Bel-Robinson version of gravity. We show that interestingly the theory propagates a transverse and massive graviton on a maximally symmetric background with positive energy. There is also a single ghost-free branch that returns to the Einstein case when \beta\to 0. Then, we obtain the conserved charges of the theory to study the thermodynamics of the black hole solutions. We get the thermodynamical quantities and show that the solutions undergo a first-order phase transition with associated Van der Waals behavior. We analyze the specific heat, determining that the black holes are thermodynamically stable over large regions of parametric space.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure

DNA vaccination with a plasmid encoding LACK-TSA fusion against Leishmania major infection in BALB/c mice

Vaccination would be the most important strategy for the prevention and elimination of leishmaniasis. The aim of the present study was to compare the immune responses induced following DNA vaccination with LACK (Leishmania analogue of the receptor kinase C), TSA (Thiol-specific-antioxidant) genes alone or LACK-TSA fusion against cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Cellular and humoral immune responses were evaluated before and after challenge with Leishmania major (L. major). In addition, the mean lesion size was also measured from 3th week post-infection. All immunized mice showed a partial immunity characterized by higher interferon (IFN)-gamma and Immunoglobulin G (IgG2a) levels compared to control groups (p< 0.05). IFN-gamma/Interleukin (IL)-4 and IgG2a/IgG1 ratios demonstrated the highest IFN-gamma and IgG2a levels in the group receiving LACK-TSA fusion. Mean lesion sizes reduced significantly in all immunized mice compared with control groups at 7th week post-infection (p< 0.05). In addition, there was a significant reduction in mean lesion size of LACK-TSA and TSA groups than LACK group after challenge (p< 0.05). In the present study, DNA immunization promoted Th1 immune response and confirmed the previous observations on immunogenicity of LACK and TSA antigens against CL. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that a bivalent vaccine can induce stronger immune responses and protection against infectious challenge with L. major

Techniques of Eyebrow Lifting: A Narrative Review

None of brow lift techniques are completely satisfactory because of their limited effectiveness, lack of longevity, and potential complications. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive review of the literature on the pros and cons of the most popular techniques in brow and forehead lift. Relevant original articles in the PubMed database (English language) were sought using the search terms �eyebrow lift�, �forehead lift�,�periorbital rejuvenation�,�eyebrow ptosis�,�blepharoplasty and eyebrow change�,�surgical eyebrow lift�, and�non-surgical eyebrow lift�, No date limitation was considered. Titles and abstracts were scanned to include the most pertinent articles. Subsequently, full texts of included articles (111 articles) were skimmed and finally 56 references were selected for the review. A narrative synthesis of data was finally undertaken with particular attention to the indications, techniques, and common complications of the eyebrow lift procedures. Ten popular techniques including two nonsurgical methods (Botulinum toxin A and soft tissue fillers) were reviewed in this article. In general, non-surgical methods of forehead/brow lift are temporary, need less experience and correction would be easier should any complication occur. Surgical methods are divided into three categories: trans-blepharoplasty eyebrow lift, direct eyebrow lift, and trans-forehead eyebrow/forehead lift. Currently, the most popular method is the endoscopic forehead lift approach even though its longevity is limited. Direct brow-lift is particularly useful in patients with facial palsy and those who are more likely to be accepting of the scar (male gender, high forehead hair line). © 2020 JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMIC AND VISION RESEARC

Report of Oplitis paradoxa (Acari: Mesostigmata: Oplitidae) from Iran

During an investigation on edaphic mite fauna of wheat fields in Abarkooh (Yazd province) and citrus orchards in Jahrom (Fars province), some specimens belonging to the family Oplitidae were collected and identified as Oplitis paradoxa (Canestrini & Berlese). This is the first report of this species from Iran

Psychometrics properties of the Iranian version of fertility quality of life tool: a cross- sectional study

Background: Clinical measurement of quality of life for assessing reproductive problems should be considered as a standard investigation at the initial and continuing medical consultations with infertile people. Objective: The purpose of this study was comprehensive testing the psychometric properties of the Iranian version of fertility quality of life (FertiQol) as its use could be considerable due to the prevalence of infertility in Iran and the importance of evaluation of QoL in patients with infertility. Method and material: This was a psychometric properties study of 300 women referred to infertility clinic, Hormozgan, Iran. After linguistic validation of the Iranian version of MPCOSQ, a semi-structured interview was conducted to assess face validity. Consequently exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed to indicate the scale constructs. Discriminant validity was assessed using the known groups comparison. Convergent validity was evaluated by assessing the correlation between similar content on the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and FertiQol. In addition, reliability analysis was carried out with internal consistency. Results: The reliability of the Iranian version of the FertiQol questionnaire was satisfactory in all dimensions (Cronbach’s alpha ranging from 0.77 to 0.83 ). Six factors (emotional, mind/body, relational, social, environmental and tolerability) were extracted from the results of EFA with factor loading of the more than 0.3. Discrimination validity showed that FertiQol can differentiate between female patients with differing duration of infertility and number of children; this indicates favorable discrimination validity. Moreover, the results of convergent validity showed a favorable correlation between the related dimensions of 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (correlation ranging from 0.43 to 0.68 ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(correlation ranging from 0.47 to 0.52 ) and FertiQol. Conclusion: The Iranian version of FertiQol is valid and reliable for assessing infertility problems and the effects of treatment on quality of life of infertile patients referred for diagnosis and treatment at an Iranian infertility clinic. The clinical use of this measure is recommended for Iranian infertility clinics

Vitamin D receptor ApaI (rs7975232), BsmI (rs1544410), Fok1 (rs2228570), and TaqI (rs731236) gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis in an Iranian population: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Polymorphisms of vitamin D receptors (VDRs), ApaI, BsmI, FokI, and TaqI might affect susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, all published articles which investigated the effects of these polymorphisms on the risk of TB in the Iranian population were retrieved. PubMed and Scopus were searched with no date or language restrictions. In this meta-analysis, the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) version 2.0 and random effects model were applied. The association of polymorphisms with TB risk was assessed by measuring the odds ratio (ORs) at 95 CI. Heterogeneity was investigated based on Cochran Q-test and I2-index statistics. The significance level was set at 0.05. Also, Egger's regression intercept was determined to measure publication bias. A total of six articles on Iranian populations were included. TaqI (5/6 included studies) showed a significant association with the increased risk of TB based on ORs (allele comparison: 1.57 (1.0, 2.3), p-value: 0.02; additive model of tt/TT: 1.57 (0.9, 2.5), p-value: 0.05; recessive model (tt/Tt + TT): 1.99 (1.2, 3.2), p-value: 0.00; dominant model (tt + Tt/TT): 1.98 (1.1, 3.5), p-value: 0.01). BsmI showed a significant positive effect on TB risk only in its dominant genotype (bb + bB/BB) (1.44 (1.0, 1.9); p-value: 0.02). FokI and ApaI did not show any significant effects on TB development in Iranian populations. Findings showed the significant effect of TaqI polymorphism in all genetic models and the dominant model of BsmI on the increased risk of TB. However, the effects of TaqI and BsmI should be further investigated in a larger sample size. © 201

Domestic greywater treatment using electrocoagulation-electrooxidation process: optimisation and experimental approaches

A synergistic combination of electrocoagulation-electrooxidation (EC-EO) process was used in the current study to treat domestic greywater. The EC process consisted of an aluminium (Al) anode and an iron (Fe) cathode, and the EO process consisted of titanium with platinum coating mesh (Ti/Pt) as an anode and stainless steel as a cathode. The effect of operative variables, namely current density, pH, EC time and EO time, on the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), colour, turbidity, and total organic carbon (TOC) was studied and optimised using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The results showed that although the pH affected the removal of all studied pollutants, it had more effect on turbidity removal with a contribution of 88.44%, while the current density had the main dominant effect on colour removal with a contribution of 73.59%. It was also found that at optimal operation conditions for a current density of 2.6 A, an initial pH of 4.67, an EC time of 31.67 min, and an EO time of 93.28 min led to a COD, colour, turbidity, and TOC removal rates of 96.1%, 97.5%, 90.9%, and 98%, respectively, which were close to the predicted results. The average operating cost and energy consumption for the removal of COD, colour, turbidity, and TOC were 0.014 $/m3 and 0.01 kWh/kg, 0.083$/m3 and 0.008 kWh/kg, 0.075 $/m3 and 0.062 kWh/kg, and 0.105$/m3 and 0.079 kWh/kg, respectively

Corrigendum to �Targeted gold nanoparticles enable molecular CT imaging of head and neck cancer: An in vivo study� (International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (2019) 114, (S1357272519301256), (10.1016/j.biocel.2019.06.002))

The authors would like to highlight that the first 3 figures in this article show data that is either identical or similar to that reported in our previous paper published in Materials Science and Engineering: C 89, 182�193. These figures have been reproduced with permission from Elsevier and were included in response to recommendations received from the both referees who reviewed our manuscript to include characterization data on the structure of the nanoparticles used. © 2019 Elsevier Lt