Determination of tensile behavior of hot-pressed Mg-TiO2 and Mg-ZrO2 nanocomposites using indentation test and a holistic inverse modeling technique

The present study aims to implement a non-destructive approach to determine the tensile properties of magnesium-based nanocomposites reinforced with ZrO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles. Micron-sized magnesium particles were blended with 0, 1.5, 3, and 5 volume percentage of ZrO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles and hot-pressed at 450 °C under the pressure of 600 MPa. Next, the spherical indentation test was performed on the produced composites to obtain the load–penetration curves. A finite element model of the indentation test was then developed using the Hollomon material model with randomly chosen materials constants. At the next stage, load–penetration curves were obtained for each composite using simulations. A Levenberg–Marquardt neural network was then trained and utilized to find the correct material constants by minimizing the differences between the experimental and simulated load–penetration curves. The results indicated that there is a linear relationship between the tensile strength and content of the reinforcement phase, while it is inversely proportional to the size of the reinforcing particles. Magnesium composites reinforced with 5 volume percentage of ZrO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles showed tensile strengths 2.5 and 2.1 times greater than that of unreinforced magnesium, respectively. It was shown that the proposed method is able to calculate the tensile properties of magnesium-based composites in an accurate and inexpensive manner

Biological control of rice sheath blight disease with formulation of indigenous Trichoderma strains under paddy field conditions

The effectiveness of indigenous Trichoderma strains in preventing sheath blight disease was evaluated during two growing seasons under paddy field conditions. Broom sorghum seeds were used for mass production of Trichoderma strains. Colonized seeds were ground to powder and mixed with talc and carboxymethyl cellulose. Suspensions were made from the bioformulations and sprayed onto rice plants. Effects of Trichoderma strains on disease incidence and severity as well as yield and other growth parameters were determined and compared with a chemical fungicide and a commercial biofungicide. A combined analysis of variance across two years was performed and a statistically significant effect of year, treatment and their interaction was reported. Results indicate that environmental factors and different biological fungicides had a strong effect on disease development under natural conditions. According to the results, propiconazole and T. harzianum AS12-2 resulted in the least disease severity and incidence. Overall, the efficacy of T. harzianum AS12-2 in reducing sheath blight development was significantly better than other Trichoderma treatments and was comparable to the conventional fungicide

Association Between Helicobacter Pylori Infection and Seronegative Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease in the central nervous system. Association between NMOSD and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been investigated, but few studies have assessed the relationship between H. pylori and seronegative AQP4-Ab NMOSD. Objectives: This study aimed to survey the association between H. pylori infection and NMOSD patients with seronegative AQP4-Ab status, as well as the possible relationship between the presence of H. pylori and clinical characteristics. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Kashani Hospital affiliated with the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, from October 2017 to May 2019. A total of 35 consecutive seronegative AQP4-Ab NMOSD patients and 37 sex and age-matched healthy controls participated in the study. Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained from all participants. We assessed participants’ seroprevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies against H. pylori. The Association of H. pylori with NMOSD was determined. Results: The frequency of IgG and IgM Ab H. pylori seropositivity in NMOSD patients was 22.9% and 40.0%, respectively. Among HC, 11(29.7%) and 20(54.1%) were positive for IgG and IgM Ab H. pylori. Although the rate of H. pylori IgG (OR=0.700, 95%, CI=0.243, 2.017, P=0.420) and IgM Ab (OR=0.567, 95%, CI=0.222, 1.444, P=0.233) seropositivity in NMOSD were lower than NMOSD, these differences were not statistically different. No clinical variables associated with H. pylori IgG and IgM seropositivity infection seropositivity. Conclusion: These findings show that possibly there is no relationship between H. pylori infection and seronegative AQP4-Ab NMOSD

Effect of public interventions through dialogue with officials and training of civil service personnel on improving the condition of collecting, transportation and rubbish repelling in Semnan (2004-2005)

زمینه و هدف: زباله اصطلاحاً به فضولات جامد، نیمه جامد یا مایعی گفته می شود که ظاهراً به درد نخور بوده و دور ریخته می شوند. زباله ها به سه دسته زباله های خانگی، بیمارستانی و صنعتی تقسیم می شوند که قسمت اعظم مواد زائد شهری را زباله های خانگی تشکیل می دهند. مدیریت حل مشکل زباله اصولاَ شامل سه قسمت جمع آوری، حمل و نقل و دفع زباله می باشد. چگونگی برنامه ریزی و مدیریت حل مشکل زباله های خانگی امروزه یکی از مسائل و معضلات مهم بهداشتی جوامع شهری می باشد. طی بررسی که توسط گروه مردمی آزاد پایگاه تحقیقات جمعیتی سمنان در سال 1383 از وضعیت مدیریت زباله های خانگی شهر سمنان به عمل آمد، متاسفانه هر سه مرحله جمع آوری، حمل و نقل و دفع زباله های خانگی از نظر رعایت نکات بهداشتی و استاندارد های مربوطه دچار مشکل بود. یافته های تحقیقات قبلی نشان داده است که این گونه مشکلات چند بعدی، بدون جلب مشارکت فعال تمامی طرفهای درگیر قابل حل نمی باشد. لذا با توجه به ساختار مناسب پایگاه های تحقیقات جمعیتی در انجام پژوهش های مشارکتی مبتنی بر جامعه، این مطالعه با هدف بهبود وضعیت زباله شهر سمنان از طریق گفتگو و تعامل با مسئولین مربوطه اجرا گردید. روش بررسی: برای انجام مداخلات مردمی در زمینه بهبود وضعیت زباله شهر سمنان، ابتدا با تشکیل جلسات گروهی مردمی، نیازهای مورد مداخله از طریق بحث متمرکز گروهی شناسائی گردید و نیز با کمک مردم از طریق مشاهده و جمع آوری مستندات محیطی ازقبیل تهیه فیلم و عکس از معضلات جمع آوری، حمل و نقل و دفع زباله شهری اقدام شد. سپس مطابق مشکلات موجود، مداخلات بر دو محور گفتگو و تعامل با مسئولین ذیربط و آموزش کارکنان خدمات شهری، طراحی و اجرا شد. در محور اول با دعوت از مسئولین سازمان های ذیربط طی جلسات متعدد، مشکلات موجود بصورت منطقی و مستدل با مشارکت جمعی (مردم، مسئولین، نیروهای دانشگاهی و افراد کارشناس و ذینفع) در محیطی دوستانه از طریق بحث متمرکز گروهی مورد بحث و بررسی قرار گرفت و تا رسیدن به نتایج ملموس تشکیل جلسات مورد پیگیری مستمر قرار گرفت. در محور دوم، نکات بهداشتی به تمامی کارکنان خدمات شهری سمنان آموزش داده شد. یافته ها: قبل از مداخلات، موارد جمع آوری، حمل و نقل و دفع زباله در شهر سمنان، از نظر بهداشتی مشکل داشت. پس از مداخلات، نتایج نشان داد رعایت نکات بهداشتی در حمل و نقل و دفع زباله تغییر و بهبود یافته است. نتیجه گیری: گفتگو و تعامل نیروهای مردمی با مسئولین شهری می تواند نتایج پر باری در بهبود وضعیت بهداشتی شهر و سلامت جامعه داشته باشد

Biological control of rice sheath blight disease with formulation of indigenous Trichoderma strains under paddy field conditions

The effectiveness of indigenous Trichoderma strains in preventing sheath blight disease was evaluated during two growing seasons under paddy field conditions. Broom sorghum seeds were used for mass production of Trichoderma strains. Colonized seeds were ground to powder and mixed with talc and carboxymethyl cellulose. Suspensions were made from the bioformulations and sprayed onto rice plants. Effects of Trichoderma strains on disease incidence and severity as well as yield and other growth parameters were determined and compared with a chemical fungicide and a commercial biofungicide. A combined analysis of variance across two years was performed and a statistically significant effect of year, treatment and their interaction was reported. Results indicate that environmental factors and different biological fungicides had a strong effect on disease development under natural conditions. According to the results, propiconazole and T. harzianum AS12-2 resulted in the least disease severity and incidence. Overall, the efficacy of T. harzianum AS12-2 in reducing sheath blight development was significantly better than other Trichoderma treatments and was comparable to the conventional fungicide

Copy number analysis from whole-exome sequencing data revealed a novel homozygous deletion in PARK7 leads to severe early-onset Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by both motor neuron and non-motor neuron symptoms, is the most frequent neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. Both genetic and environmental factors take part in disease etiology. Most cases are considered complex multifactorial diseases. About 15% of PD appear in the familial form, and about 5% of all cases arise from a single gene mutation. Among Mendelian causes of PD, PARK7 is one of the autosomal recessive forms due to loss-of-function mutations in both gene alleles. Both single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and copy number variations (CNVs) are observed in PARK7. This study presents an Iranian family with familial PD where some relatives had psychiatric disorders. A homozygous 1617 bp deletion in a female with early-onset PD was detected through copy-number analysis from whole-exome sequencing (WES) data in this consanguineous family. Further investigation by surveying microhomology revealed that the actual size of the deletion is 3,625 bp. This novel CNV that was in the PARK7gene is supposed to co-relation with early-onset PD and infertility in this family

A Short Communication: Non-acid Nucleic Blood Multi-Factors Panels for Primary Breast Cancer Detection - A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

This study aimed to compare the non-acid nucleic blood multi-factor panels together and with mammography in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in primary breast cancer detection (I, II, III, and IV). We systematically reviewed studies assessing non-acid nucleic blood tumor markers panels’ diagnostic value in both healthy women and patients (before any anticancer treatment) for the detection of primary breast cancer. Out of the 2358 titles initially identified, 12 studies and 9 panels were included in the network meta-analysis. Panels I (MSA + B2m) and J (GATA3 + E-cadherin) had the highest sensitivity in all stages of primary breast cancer but had no significant difference with mammography. Panels L (MSA + CA15–3) and B (M-CSF + CA15–3) had the highest specificity in all stages compared to other panels but no remarkable difference with mammography. Panels J (GATA3 + E-cadherin) and I (MSA + B2m) respectively had the highest accuracy in primary breast cancer detection but no considerable difference with mammography in terms of accuracy. Panel J, including GATA3 + E-cadherin, demonstrated a higher diagnostic value for primary breast cancer detection (I, II, III, and IV) than the rest of the panels

Beliefs, attitudes and practices of physicians in patient situations: Online survey conducted in Latin American countries

 La invulnerabilidad del médico como mito social, miedo de afrontar y subestimar sus dolencias físicas y mentales, dificultan el manejo de su enfermedad. Objetivo: determinar las creencias, actitudes y prácticas del médico en situación de paciente en los países latinoamericanos. Material y Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, de corte transversal, empleando una encuesta en línea que generó un total de 533 respuestas efectivas procedentes 21 países de la región. Resultados. La mayoría fue de sexo femenino 57,6%, La media de edad de los participantes fue de 46,5 años y la especialidad con mayor participación fue medicina interna 48,4%. El 47,3% no tenía médico de cabecera y 7,5 % respondieron que no contaban con un seguro de salud. En el renglón de creencia, la mayoría de los encuestados 61,5% consideró que es más difícil tratar a un colega como paciente, y el 67,9% admitió la importancia de las acciones espirituales y religiosas en caso de enfermedad. En cuanto a la vulnerabilidad de los médicos frente las enfermedades, el miedo de cambiar su estado a paciente y pérdida de autonomía respondieron afirmativamente 95,5%. En relación a la actitud, el 79% respondió que buscaría a un médico de su misma especialidad, el 93,8% obedecería íntegramente las órdenes médicas y el 98,8% no pediría cambio de protocolo o de procedimiento. Así mismo, el 59,9% reportaría a un colega que no está en su plena facultad y el 75% divulgaría el estado de salud de otro colega si pone en peligro su vida o la de su paciente. En relación a la práctica, el 43,7% trataría a sus familiares de primer grado; el 21,5% seguiría laborando aun con una dolencia; el 37% haría su propia indicación de pruebas diagnósticas; el 21,4% se automedicaría; y el 4,3% y 7,7%, respectivamente, cambiaría las prescripciones y haría caso omiso a las recomendaciones de su médico tratante. Conclusión: los médicos en situación de pacientes temen estar enfermos y perder su autonomía, muchos no tienen médico de cabecera ni seguro de salud, le dan importancia a las acciones espirituales y religiosas, tienden a buscar a un médico de su propia especialidad y están llanos a aceptar las órdenes médicas, aun cuando también pueden decidir por la automedicación e indicar sus propias pruebas diagnósticas.The invulnerability of the physician as a social myth, fear of facing and underestimation of his physical and mental ailments, hinder the management of his disease. Objective: to determine the beliefs, attitudes and practices of the physician as a patient in Latin American countries. Material and Methods: a descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out using an online survey that generated a total of 533 effective responses from 21 countries in the region. Results. The majority was female 57,6%, the mean age of the participants was 46,5 years and the specialty with the highest participation was internal medicine 48,4%. The mean age of the participants was 46,5 years and the specialty with the highest participation was internal medicine (48,4%), and 47,3% did not have a family doctor and 7,5% responded that they did not have health insurance. In the line of belief, the majority of the respondents 61,5% considered that it is more difficult to treat a colleague as a patient, and 67,9% admitted the importance of spiritual and religious actions in case of illness. As for the vulnerability of physicians to illness, fear of changing their status to patient and loss of autonomy, 95,5% responded affirmatively. In relation to attitude, 79% responded that they would look for a physician of their own specialty, 93,8% would obey medical orders in their entirety and 98,8% would not ask for a change of protocol or procedure. Likewise, 59,9% would report a colleague who is not in their full capacity and 75% would disclose the health status of another colleague if it endangered their life or that of their patient. In relation to practice, 43,7% would treat their first-degree relatives; 21,5% would continue to work even with an ailment; 37% would make their own indication for diagnostic tests; 21,4% would self-medicate; and 4,3% and 7,7%, respectively, would change prescriptions and disregard the recommendations of their treating physician. Conclusion: physicians as patients are afraid of being sick and losing their autonomy, many do not have a general practitioner or health insurance, give importance to spiritual and religious actions, tend to look for a physician of their own specialty and are willing to accept medical orders, even though they can also decide to self-medicate and indicate their own diagnostic tests