From Ise to the World in a Time of Pandemic

A collection of essays on COVID-19 by scholars from around the world who shared a common experience in Japan in the early stages of the pandemic, and then communicated from their respective countries as the disease spread around the world. Written in multiple styles and with diverse perspectives, these essays provide insight into the similarities and differences, and the equalizing and dis-equalizing aspects of the world’s response to the pandemic

The Isaac Newton Telescope monitoring survey of Local Group dwarf galaxies--V. The star formation history of Sagittarius dwarf irregular galaxy derived from long period variable stars

We conducted an optical monitoring survey of the Sagittarius dwarf irregular galaxy (SagDIG) during the period of June 2016 -- October 2017, using the 2.5-m Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) at La Palama. Our goal was to identify Long Period Variable stars (LPVs), namely asymptotic giant branch stars (AGBs) and red supergiant stars (RSGs), to obtain the Star Formation History (SFH) of isolated, metal-poor SagDIG. For our purpose, we used a method that relies on evaluating the relation between luminosity and the birth mass of these most evolved stars. We found $27$ LPV candidates within two half-light radii of SagDIG. $10$ LPV candidates were in common with previous studies, including one very dusty AGB (x-AGB). By adopting the metallicity $Z = 0.0002$ for older population and $Z=0.0004$ for younger ages, we estimated that the star formation rate changes from $0.0005\pm0.0002$ M$_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$kpc$^{-2}$ ($13$ Gyr ago) to $0.0021 \pm 0.0010$ M$_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$kpc$^{-2}$ ($0.06$ Gyr ago). Like many dwarf irregular galaxies, SagDIG has had continuous star formation activity across its lifetime, though with different rates, and experiences an enhancement of star formation since $z \simeq 1$. We also evaluated the total stellar mass within two half-light radii of SagDIG for three choices of metallicities. For metallicity $Z = 0.0002$ and $Z=0.0004$ we estimated the stellar mass M$_*$ = ($5.4 \pm 2.3$) $\times$ $10^ 6$ and ($3.0 \pm 1.3$) $\times$ $10^ 6$ M$_{\odot}$, respectively. Additionally, we determined a distance modulus $\mu$ = $25.27\pm0.05$ mag, using the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB).Comment: 16 pages, Accepted for publication in Ap

From Ise to the world in a time of pandemic

A collection of essays on COVID-19 by scholars from around the world who shared a common experience in Japan in the early stages of the pandemic, and then communicated from their respective countries as the disease spread around the world. Written in multiple styles and with diverse perspectives, these essays provide insight into the similarities and differences, and the equalizing and dis-equalizing aspects of the world’s response to the pandemic.</p

Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative Dermatoglyphic Characteristics ‎of Opium Addicts with Healthy Individuals

Background: Recreational drugs have a significant impact on the lives of drug users, their close families and friends, as well as their society. Social, psychological, biological, and genetic factors could make a person more prone to using recreational drugs. Finger and A-B ridges (dermatoglyphics) are formed during the first and second trimesters of fetal development, under the influence of environmental and genetic factors. The aim of our study was to investigate and evaluate a possible link between dermatoglyphics and opium usage.Methods: The pattern of dermatoglyphics - finger and A-B prints - obtained from a group of opium users (121 patients) was compared to those obtained from a group of opium non-users (121 patients) from Birjand, Iran. The results were analyzed using chi-square, t and Mann–Whitney tests.Findings: The results showed that although A-B ridges of palms and fingers in our study group were higher compared to the control group, there was no significant difference between these groups. The only significant difference was the fingerprint patterns of the left ring finger in the study group, which lacked the arch pattern and had less loop patterns. The dominant type of fingerprint in the left ring finger was the whorl. In our opium user group, the arch and loop fingerprint patterns were heterogeneous and significantly different in comparison with the control group (P < 0.01).Conclusion: These findings suggest that a genetic factor may increase the predisposition to recreational drug usage. Further research is required to confirm this possible impact of genetic factors on the addiction process

Detection of Carious Lesions and Restorations Using Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm

Background/Purpose. In terms of the detection of tooth diagnosis, no intelligent detection has been done up till now. Dentists just look at images and then they can detect the diagnosis position in tooth based on their experiences. Using new technologies, scientists will implement detection and repair of tooth diagnosis intelligently. In this paper, we have introduced one intelligent method for detection using particle swarm optimization (PSO) and our mathematical formulation. This method was applied to 2D special images. Using developing of our method, we can detect tooth diagnosis for all of 2D and 3D images. Materials and Methods. In recent years, it is possible to implement intelligent processing of images by high efficiency optimization algorithms in many applications especially for detection of dental caries and restoration without human intervention. In the present work, we explain PSO algorithm with our detection formula for detection of dental caries and restoration. Also image processing helped us to implement our method. And to do so, pictures taken by digital radiography systems of tooth are used. Results and Conclusion. We implement some mathematics formula for fitness of PSO. Our results show that this method can detect dental caries and restoration in digital radiography pictures with the good convergence. In fact, the error rate of this method was 8%, so that it can be implemented for detection of dental caries and restoration. Using some parameters, it is possible that the error rate can be even reduced below 0.5%

The Isaac Newton Telescope Monitoring Survey of Local Group Dwarf Galaxies. VI. The Star Formation History and Dust Production in Andromeda IX

We present a photometric study of the resolved stellar populations in Andromeda IX (And IX), the closest satellite to M31, a metal-poor and low-mass dwarf spheroidal galaxy. We estimate a distance modulus of $24.56^{+0.05}_{-0.15}$ mag based on the tip of the red giant branch. By probing the variability of asymptotic giant branch stars, we study the star formation history of And IX. We identified 50 long-period variables (LPVs) in And IX using the Isaac Newton Telescope in two filters, the Sloan $i'$ and Harris $V$. In this study, we selected LPVs within two half-light radii with amplitudes in the range of 0.2–2.20 mag. It is found that the peak of star formation reaches ${\sim}8.2 {\pm} 3.1 {\times} 10{^-4}M_{\odot} yr^{-1}$ at ≈6 Gyr ago. Our findings suggest an outside-in galaxy formation scenario for And IX with a quenching occurring $3.65^{+1.52}_{-0.13}$ Gyr ago with a star formation rate (SFR) in the order of $2.0 {\times} 10^{-4}M_{\odot} yr^{-1}$ at redshift <0.5. We calculate the total stellar mass by integrating the SFR within two half-light radii ${\sim}3.0 {\times} 10^{5}M_{\odot}$. By employing spectral energy distribution fitting for the observed LPVs in And IX, we evaluate a mass-loss rate in the range of $10^{-7} ≤ M ≤ 10^{-5} M_{\odot} yr^{-1}$. Finally, we show that the total mass deposition to the interstellar medium (ISM) is ${\sim}2.4 {\times} 10^{-4} M_{\odot} yr^{-1}$ from the C- and O-rich types of dust-enshrouded LPVs. The ratio of the total mass returned to the ISM by LPVs to the total stellar mass is ${\sim}8.0 {\times} 10^{-10} yr^{-1}$, and so at this rate it would take ∼1 Gyr to reproduce this galaxy

Attitude of Nurses toward the Patient Safety Culture: A Cross-Sectional Study of the Hospitals in Tehran, Iran

Introduction: Patient safety is a major component of healthcare quality, which is defined as the avoidance of causing harm to patients in providing healthcare services. The present study aimed to investigate the attitude of nurses toward the patient safety culture in the teaching general hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014. Data were collected using the adapted version of the safety attitude questionnaire (SAQ). Sample size consisted of 385 nurses, who were selected randomly. In total, 325 participants completed the questionnaire. Data analysis was performed in SPSS Version 19 using descriptive statistics, t-test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results:Mean age of the participants was 36.21±6.9 years, and 92% and 8% of the respondents were female and male, respectively. In terms of the occupational status, 92.1% of the participants had a contractual job or permanent official employment. Mean percentage of the positive attitude toward the patient safety culture was 59.2±18.1, 55.6±17.0, 53.8±24.2, 49.5±16.5, and 43.0±22.4 in the dimensions of management perception, teamwork, job satisfaction, safety climate, and work conditions, respectively. In addition, a significant difference was observed in the dimension of management perception and employment status of the nurses (F=4.4; P=0.01). Conclusion: According to the results, attitude of the nurses in the selected hospitals was poor toward the dimensions of the patient safety culture. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that specific training interventions be performed to enhance the work conditions and safety climate in these hospital

Intestinal dermoid cyst in a German shepherd dog

A two-year-old male German shepherd dog was admitted to Shahid Bahonar Veterinary Hospital with clinical signs that included lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, abdominal pain and dehydration. Physical examination revealed nothing significant. Routine paraclinical tests only revealed a stress leukogram. Radiography revealed a mass in the stomach. Whilst performing a laparotomy, the surgeon observed an unusual mass in the subserosal layer of the proximal part of the jejunum. The histopathology of the mass revealed some scattered sebaceous and sweat glands associated with the cyst wall that confirmed the diagnosis of a dermoid cyst. Intestinal dermoid cysts are very rare and to our knowledge this is the first report of an intestinal dermoid cyst in a dog

The Effects of Methanolic Extract of Melissa officinalis on Experimental Gastric Ulcers in Rats

Social determinants of health (DSS) are the circumstances in which people are born, grow, live, work, and grow old in relation to their health system. The study of DSS becomes essential for understanding social health inequalities by gender. This study analyzes the perception of health status, lifestyles and the use of health services, from the perspective of social determinants of health and the axis of inequality in Catalonia in 2006 and 2012/13. , through the comparison of the results obtained with the Health Survey of Catalonia (ESCA) The descriptive study focused on the population of Catalonia, not institutionalized and over 15 years. The research results reveal differences between the two waves likely to be in different economic contexts. The main contribution of the thesis is the analysis carried out from the perspective of gender, DSS and the axis of inequalityEls determinants socials de la salut (DSS) són les circumstàncies en què les persones neixen, creixen, viuen, treballen i envelleixen, en relació amb el sistema de salut. L’estudi dels DSS es converteix en essencial per entendre las desigualtats socials en salut segons el gènere. En aquest estudi, s’analitza la percepció de l'estat de salut, els estils de vida i l'ús dels serveis sanitaris, des de la perspectiva dels determinants socials de salut i els eixos de desigualtat a Catalunya al 2006 i 2012/13, a traves de la comparació dels resultats obtinguts a l’ Enquesta de Salud de Catalunya (ESCA) L'estudi descriptiu s'ha centrat en la població de Catalunya, no institucionalitzada i major de 15 anys. Els resultats de la investigació revelen diferencies entre les dues onades probablement per trobar-se en contextos econòmics diferents. La principal aportació de la tesis es l’anàlisi realitzat des de la perspectiva de gènere, DSS i els eixos de desigualta