An Investigation of the Relationship between Mathematics Performance of Students in a Non-Routine Problem, according to Grade and Gender

This study aims to investigate the relationship between performance of students in solving a proportional reasoning problem and the variables of gender and grade level, respectively. The participants in the study included 540 students (320 girls and 220 boys) in the first, second, and third grades of junior high school in Isfahan's schools. Students were asked to respond to non-routine problems in a special sheet that had been prepared in advance. The strategies used by students in the answer sheets were then analysed by using a theoretical framework from the research literature in mathematics education, and classified into seven categories as follows: no answer, sheer collective, non-real, procedural, transition, novice and professional strategies. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann and Whitney statistics were used to evaluate the significance of the effects of each grade and gender factors on the student performance. The results showed that the overall performance of boys was better than that of girls. Also performance of the first grade students was significantly higher than the second and third grade students' performance. Other differences were not significant

Genetically modified Pichia pastoris, a powerful resistant factory for gold and palladium bioleaching and nanostructure heavy metal biosynthesis

A metal-resistant engineered Pichia pastoris was developed here to fulfil the metal bioleaching in aqueous conditions. Parent and recombinant yeasts were grown in YPD medium containing different concentrations of ion metals. XRD, electron microscopy and particle size analyser were used for the characterisation and the nanoparticle analyses. The nanoparticle production kinetics were studied by ICP-OES. The cytotoxicity of nanoparticles was assayed against human cell lines. Media colours changed to a range from purplish-brown to grey during early fermentation stages. The maximum biosorption capacities were recorded 81.23 and 493.35 mg/g for gold and palladium in batch conditions, respectively. Various physical investigations proved monodispersed spherical nanoparticles around 100 nm in size. Pure palladium nanoparticles and PdCl2 represented the least cytotoxic potency towards T47D and EPG85.257 cells. The results demonstrated that the genetically modified yeast is a cost-effective, high-throughput, robust, and facile system for metal biosorption. KEYWORDS: Biosorption; bioleaching; gold; palladium nanoparticle; recombinant Pichia pastori

Genetic algorithm-based optimization approach for an uncapacitated single allocation P-hub center problem with more realistic cost structure

Abstract A p-hub center network design problem consists of some nodes as hubs and allocation of non-hub nodes to them wherein the maximum travel times between any pair of nodes is minimized. The distinctive feature of this study is proposing a new mathematical formulation for modeling costs in a p-hub center problem. Here, instead of considering costs as a linear function of distance, for the first time, we formulate costs as a summation of different parts: fixed cost, health, safety and environment (HSE) cost, energy cost and personnel cost. Such integrated model results in a hard-tosolve nonlinear formulation. To validate the proposed model, a small scale problem instance of CAB dataset solved by LINGO software. We also prepared a Genetic Algorithm (GA) by MATLAB software to solve complete problems of CAB and AP datasets

Publishers’ Policy in Selecting the Subject of Printed Books for Children and Young Adults and their Subject Analysis based on the Dewey Decimal Classification in 1981-2021

Objective: By publishing books on various topics, publishers can increase the richness of their publishing collection. Among the types of publishers, children's and youth book publishers, considering the importance of this era, play a significant role in nurturing and developing the imagination of children and youth and satisfying their sense of curiosity by publishing books in various fields. The purpose of this study is to determine the policy of publishers in selecting the subject of printed books for children and young adults and their subject analysis based on Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) in 1981-2021. Methods: It is an applied research, which has been done by a mixed approach, that is the combination of two sets of quantitative and qualitative approaches. In the quantitative approach for the thematic analysis of adolescents, books based on the Dewey Decimal Classification in the period of 1358-1394, a library study method has been used. To study the Subject selecting policy for publishing, of child and adolescent books by publishers, rising from a data approach grounded theory has been used. For the thematic analyze of children and adolescents' books, the list of printed cataloging sheets of the published books of publishers in the National Library and Center for the Intellectual Development of Children and Adolescents were studied. In addition, in order to study the publisher's subject selecting policy, Semi-structured interviews with 12 publishers were conducted together with qualitive textual data analyzing three stages of coding. The results of the topic analysis of children and adolescents' books were analyzed quantitively by using Excel software. Results: The results of this research showed that during the period of 1981-2021, the published books in category 890 (category of Persian literature) were the most frequent ones. By reviewing the content of the books, it was revealed that social and religious subjects have been a favored by publishers and subjects in scientific, ethics, education, psychology and reference books were less favored by publishers for publishing. Moreover, the community's choices and favorite subjects were always considered by publishers. The result of the research showed that the factors, that is, subject selection, policy and planning, subject trends, interaction and communication, and attitudes and views points of publishers were effective in choosing the subjects by publishers. Conclusion: The findings of the study illustrates the status of the publication of children and adolescents' books on various topics over the past three decades. By identifying the factors influencing the publication of children and adolescent books, it helps publishers, while recognizing these factors as well as challenges and limitations, to take steps to improve the status of children and adolescent book publishing and subject variety. The results of the study can help the government and publishers to support the publication of the book for children and adolescents by drawing the status of the publication of the book for children and adolescents and the factors affecting it

Effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of rosa damascena mill leaf on smooth muscle contractions

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Rosa damascena Mill is from Rosacea family which has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. The effects of petal’s hydro-alcoholic extract of Rosa damascena Mill were examined on the trachea, aorta and uterus of Wistar rats in this study. METHODS: This experimental study was conducted on forty male Wistar rats randomly divided into five groups of eight including control group, the groups receiving 0.5, 0.75 and 1 doses of Rosa damascena Mill extract with the presence and absence of calcium chloride. Isometric contraction was recorded by adding KCl to smooth muscle with stability device. After reaching the pan state, the effects of saline and cumulative concentrations of extracts were recorded and the percentage changes were calculated. FINDINGS: Cumulative extract of Rosa damascena Mill (0.5, 0.75 and 1ig/m) dependent on dose caused the rat’s trachea, aorta and uterus contractions (p<0.05). The contractions of cumulative extract of Rosa damascena Mill were 54+ 2/37, 96+3/32 and 62+2/17 in aortic smooth muscle, trachea and uterus, respectively with the presence of 60mM calcium chloride. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that Rosa damascena Mill increased the trachea, aorta and uterus contractions. Therefore it should be used with caution in patients suffering from asthma, dysmenorrhea or hypertension. © 2014, Babol University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Assessing the level of Coronavirus Disease Anxiety and its related factors in third-trimester pregnant women referring to the health centers of Isfahan during the pandemic

Background: Pregnancy as a sensitive period of a woman's life can be affected by various psychological factors. Covid-19 pandemic is a new phenomenon; and there is limited information about its psychological consequences such as the Coronavirus disease anxiety in these women. So, the present study aimed to determine the level of Covid-19 anxiety in the third trimester of pregnancy and its related factors. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 215 pregnant women with 28-33 weeks of gestational age were studied. The samples were selected from the health centers and hospitals in Isfahan, Iran, by cluster sampling. A questionnaire of Demographic, fertility and Coronavirus-related factors as well as the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (including psychological and physical components) were completed by the mothers in person. The data was analyzed by SPSS-24 software using One-way analysis of variance, independent t-test, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, Pearson and Spearman correlation tests. Result: The results showed that the mean score of Corona disease anxiety in pregnant women was 11.45±7.56. Anxiety was reported to be low in 62.8% of pregnant women, moderate in 32.6% and high in 4.6%. The mean score of the psychological component (8.40± 4.78) was higher than the score of the physical component (3.06± 3.59). Working women, women with client-related occupations, and those having a working husband had lower anxiety scores. Factors such as death of family members due to Coronavirus disease and higher gestational age were associated with a significant increase in Corona anxiety score. Conclusion: Considering that death of a family member due to Coronavirus disease and higher gestational age are associated with higher Coronavirus disease anxiety, the results of this study can be used to identify high-risk pregnant women and suggest early psychological interventions for preventing pregnancy anxiety complications

siRNA delivery using intelligent chitosan-capped mesoporous silica nanoparticles for overcoming multidrug resistance in malignant carcinoma cells

Although siRNA is a promising technology for cancer gene therapy, effective cytoplasmic delivery has remained a significant challenge. In this paper, a potent siRNA transfer system with active targeting moieties toward cancer cells and a high loading capacity is introduced to inhibit drug resistance. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles are of great potential for developing targeted gene delivery. Amino-modified MSNs (NH2-MSNs) were synthesized using a modified sol-gel method and characterized by FTIR, BET, TEM, SEM, X-ray diffraction, DLS, and H-1-NMR. MDR1-siRNA was loaded within NH2-MSNs, and the resulting negative surface was capped by functionalized chitosan as a protective layer. Targeting moieties such as TAT and folate were anchored to chitosan via PEG-spacers. The loading capacity of siRNA and the protective effect of chitosan for siRNA were determined by gel retardation assay. MTT assay, flow cytometry, real-time PCR, and western blot were performed to study the cytotoxicity, cellular uptake assay, targeting evaluation, and MDR1 knockdown efficiency. The synthesized NH2-MSNs had a particle size of approximate to 100 nm and pore size of approximate to 5 nm. siRNA was loaded into NH2-MSNs with a high loading capacity of 20% w/w. Chitosan coating on the surface of siRNA-NH2-MSNs significantly improved the siRNA protection against enzyme activity compared to naked siRNA-NH2-MSNs. MSNs and modified MSNs did not exhibit significant cytotoxicity at therapeutic concentrations in the EPG85.257-RDB and HeLa-RDB lines. The folate-conjugated nanoparticles showed a cellular uptake of around two times higher in folate receptor-rich HeLa-RDB than EPG85.257-RDB cells. The chitosan-coated siRNA-NH2-MSNs produced decreased MDR1 transcript and protein levels in HeLa-RDB by 0.20 and 0.48-fold, respectively. The results demonstrated that functionalized chitosan-coated siRNA-MSNs could be a promising carrier for targeted cancer therapy. Folate-targeted nanoparticles were specifically harvested by folate receptor-rich HeLa-RDB and produced a chemosensitized phenotype of the multidrug-resistant cancer cells

Expression levels of mRNA cytokines of IL-17 and IL-23 in epithelialfiber of stomach inpatients with Helicobacter pylori using Real-Time PCR in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari province

زمینه و هدف: اینترلوکین های 17 و 23 در دفاع بر علیه برخی عفونت‌های مخاطی دستگاه گوارش نقش دارند و IL-17 باعث جذب نوتروفیل ها به محل عفونت شده و در ایجاد التهاب نقش دارد. مطالعه حاضر میزان بیان mRNA سیتوکاین های IL-17و IL-23در دو گروه بیماران گاستریتی با عفونت هلیکوباکترپیلوری و فاقد عفونت را به وسیله روش کمی Real-Time PCR بررسی می‌کند. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه مورد- شاهدی، از 58 بیمار دارای گاستریت با عفونت هلیکوباکترپیلوری و 50 بیمار مبتلا به گاستریت که فاقد عفونت بودند، توسط آندوسکوپی بیوپسی تهیه شد. بعد از استخراجmRNA و تبدیل آن به cDNA، میزان بیانmRNA مربوط به IL-17و IL-23در نمونه‌ها توسط Real-Time PCR اندازه گیری شد و بیان سایتوکاین ها در دو گروه آلوده و غیر آلوده با استفاده از تست Mann–Whitney مورد آنالیز قرار گرفت. یافته‌ها: ارتباط معنی‌داری بین میزان بیانIL-17 mRNA در افراد دارای گاستریت با عفونت هلیکوباکترپیلوری و افراد دارای گاستریت فاقد عفونت دیده نشد (941/0P=). همچنین ارتباط بین میزان بیان mRNA IL-23در بیماران دارای گاستریت با عفونت هلیکوباکترپیلوری و بیماران دارای گاستریت فاقد عفونت معنی دار نبود (076/0 P=). نتیجه‌گیری: نتایج این مطالعه نشان داد که میزان بیان mRNA سیتوکاین های IL-17و IL-23در بیماران دارای گاستریت با عفونت هلیکوباکترپیلوری در مقایسه با بیماران گاستریتی بدون عفونت بالاتر نمی‌باشد و در نتیجه ارتباط معنی داری بین دو گروه مورد مطالعه در این استان وجود ندارد؛ لذا می طلبد تا نقش دقیق سایتوکاین ‌های دیگر درگیر در بروز بیماری گاستریت جهت تعیین پیش آگهی و ارزیابی برنامه های درمانی بیشتر مشخص شود

Methodology of Isfahan Tobacco Use Prevention Program: First Phase

Background. Tobacco use continues to be the leading global cause of preventable death. The majority of smokers begin using tobacco products at teen ages. The aims of this study were providing a methodology of Isfahan Tobacco Use Prevention Program and investigating the prevalence of tobacco use and its related factors. Method. It was a cross-sectional study among guidance and high school students in Isfahan province. Initiation, social, psychological (depression and self-efficacy), family, and attitudinal and belief factors and school policy toward smoking (cigarettes and water-pipe) were investigated. Saliva qutinin was given from 5% of participants for determination of accuracy of responses. A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was used for gathering all data. Results. Of all 5500 questionnaires distributed, about 5408 completed questionnaires were returned (with response rate of 98.3%). Of all participants, 2702 (50.0%) were girls and 2706 (50.0%) were boys. Respectively, 4811 (89.0%) and 597 (11.0%) were from urban and rural. Of all participants, 2445 (45.2%) were guidance school and 2962 (54.8%) were high school students. Conclusion. This study will provide a unique opportunity to study prevalence of smoking cigarettes and water-pipe (ghelyan) among guidance and high school students in Isfahan province and determine the role of initiation, social, psychological, family, and attitudinal and belief factors and school policy toward smoking

The unfinished agenda of communicable diseases among children and adolescents before the COVID-19 pandemic, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Communicable disease control has long been a focus of global health policy. There have been substantial reductions in the burden and mortality of communicable diseases among children younger than 5 years, but we know less about this burden in older children and adolescents, and it is unclear whether current programmes and policies remain aligned with targets for intervention. This knowledge is especially important for policy and programmes in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to use the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019 to systematically characterise the burden of communicable diseases across childhood and adolescence. METHODS: In this systematic analysis of the GBD study from 1990 to 2019, all communicable diseases and their manifestations as modelled within GBD 2019 were included, categorised as 16 subgroups of common diseases or presentations. Data were reported for absolute count, prevalence, and incidence across measures of cause-specific mortality (deaths and years of life lost), disability (years lived with disability [YLDs]), and disease burden (disability-adjusted life-years [DALYs]) for children and adolescents aged 0-24 years. Data were reported across the Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and across time (1990-2019), and for 204 countries and territories. For HIV, we reported the mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) as a measure of health system performance. FINDINGS: In 2019, there were 3·0 million deaths and 30·0 million years of healthy life lost to disability (as measured by YLDs), corresponding to 288·4 million DALYs from communicable diseases among children and adolescents globally (57·3% of total communicable disease burden across all ages). Over time, there has been a shift in communicable disease burden from young children to older children and adolescents (largely driven by the considerable reductions in children younger than 5 years and slower progress elsewhere), although children younger than 5 years still accounted for most of the communicable disease burden in 2019. Disease burden and mortality were predominantly in low-SDI settings, with high and high-middle SDI settings also having an appreciable burden of communicable disease morbidity (4·0 million YLDs in 2019 alone). Three cause groups (enteric infections, lower-respiratory-tract infections, and malaria) accounted for 59·8% of the global communicable disease burden in children and adolescents, with tuberculosis and HIV both emerging as important causes during adolescence. HIV was the only cause for which disease burden increased over time, particularly in children and adolescents older than 5 years, and especially in females. Excess MIRs for HIV were observed for males aged 15-19 years in low-SDI settings. INTERPRETATION: Our analysis supports continued policy focus on enteric infections and lower-respiratory-tract infections, with orientation to children younger than 5 years in settings of low socioeconomic development. However, efforts should also be targeted to other conditions, particularly HIV, given its increased burden in older children and adolescents. Older children and adolescents also experience a large burden of communicable disease, further highlighting the need for efforts to extend beyond the first 5 years of life. Our analysis also identified substantial morbidity caused by communicable diseases affecting child and adolescent health across the world. FUNDING: The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Centre for Research Excellence for Driving Investment in Global Adolescent Health and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation