49 research outputs found

    Explaining the components of access in information seeking process in virtual space based on radical change theory: The case study of newcomer bachelor degree students of faculty of Education and Psychology of the University of Tabriz

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    Purpose: explaining the components of access based on one of the dimensions fundamental change theory in the process of seeking information students in virtual space. Method: The present study is a qualitative using semi-structured interviews. Population consist of BA students in education and psychology Faculty of university of Tabriz, selected using snowball sampling. Finally, using the opinions of 21 students, required data came to the saturation. To analyze qualitative data and extract components from the method of coding the grounded theory and MaxQDA software used. Findings :To design access model and to discover a common concept of the definition of the phenomenon in question (access), considering causal conditions (context of using the knowledge and ability of others and types of content used in virtual space), contextual variables (access tools), strategies (how to access information resources, having the necessary skills to use information resources independently, using the knowledge and abilities of others in virtual space), intervening conditions (barriers to accessing information) and consequences of access (application of virtual space for users) was explained. Value: The value of this research is to show one of the important dimensions of the theory of fundamental change (access) that is affected by the virtual environment. Conclusion: The emergence of electronic resources in virtual space and the unique features of virtual space have changed the information-seeking behavior of students, and need to have necessary abilities and skills in the field of information literacy, computer literacy, Internet literacy, communication literacy, critical literacy, and culture literacy

    Evaluation of HER2 gene amplification status in invasive breast cancer patients by Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization analysis and its correlation with clinical features

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    Precise assessment of HER2 gene status as an important biomarker plays a significant role in identifying the eligible patients for Trastuzumab therapy and determining their clinical outcomes. In this study, the researchers assigned HER2 amplification status in invasive breast cancer specimens by Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH) and determined its association with other clinical features. Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tumor tissue specimens of 46 patients with invasive breast cancer were collected from November 2011 till May 2012. HER2status was evaluated by FISH. The Zytolight SPEC HER2/CEN17 dual color probe kit was applied for assessment of HER2status. HER2 gene amplification was defined as HER2/CEP17 ratio>2.2.The association between HER2status and clinical features like tumor grade, tumor type, tumor size, axillary lymph node involvement and age of patient was done using Chi squared test at the 0.05 level of significance (p value). Amplification of HER2 gene was detected in twelve cases (26%). On statistical analysis HER2status showed correlation with tumor grade (p=0.02).There was no correlation between HER2status and tumor type, tumor size, lymph node status and age of patients. The results of this study are consonant with the findings of other studies about the presence of HER2 gene amplification in invasive breast cancer. Statistical analysis showed patients with HER2 amplified gene have tumors with higher grade. In these patients the probability of increased proliferation and metastasis is high therefore evaluation of HER2 gene amplification status in breast cancer patients specially in high grade tumor with an accurate method such as FISH is essentia

    Comparison of quality of work life in rural family physicians and other general physicians in Iran

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    Background: Job satisfaction of physicians in family physician team is considered as one of the important factors for health system. The aim of the preent study was to compare the quality of work life (QoWL) in rural family physicians and general physicians with private clinics in Kurdistan province.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 103 general physicians including 50 rural family physicians and 53 general physicians with private clinics in Kurdistan province in 2016. The data were collected using QoWL questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS, v. 16. Descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation (SD) were used to describe the data and to examine the relationship between the variables, T-test was run.Results: The QoWL of rural family physicians with a mean of 55 (SD = 7.6) was higher than average scores. But QoWL of other general physicians with a mean of 47.7 (SD = 13.5) was lower than average scores. The results of t-test showed that there was a significant difference between QoWL of family physicians and other general physicians (t = 82.3, p = 0.001). In rural family physicians, there is a significant association between the QoWL and gender (t=2.7, P = 0.009) as well as native status (t=2.53, P = 0.004). In general physicians with private clinics, the QoWL of native physicians was higher than that of non-native physicians (t = 4.3, P = 0.001).Conclusion: The QoWL of rural family physicians is better than that of others general physicians, even though it is unsatisfactory in both studied groups. Therefore, improving the QoWL of rural family physicians, especially female and non-native rural family physicians, is recommended because promoting the rural family physicians' satisfaction can decrease the likelihood of turnover, and thus increase service quality and responsiveness, as a goal of the health system

    Comparison of bone cell viability and proliferation in 3D scaffold to Monolayer cell culture

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    Introduction: Today, due to high rates of accidents and fractures leading to bone defects and due to the limited possibility of bone graft bonding, using the patient’s cell culture on appropriate scaffolds and transferring it to the defect area is suggested as one of the treatment plans.Materials and methods: Bone samples of 8 male subjects that were under craniotomy surgery in the hospital were collected. First, the samples were cut into smaller pieces and then, transferred to incubator culture dishes. Two weeks later, the osteoblast activity on the bone matrix began and on average, the cells covered the dishes within two weeks. The first generation of the cells was removed by Trypsin_EDTA method from the opaltes, then were divided into two parts, one was added to alginate gel and the other to monolayer culture. In order to prove the osteoblast activity on the bone matrix and investigate these activities, Van Kossa staining method was used, and also to investigate the cell viability, MTT method was employed.  Results: There was a significant difference in the number of the cells created in alginate gel and those created in monolayer after two weeks (P <0.001). Moreover, the difference between mean cell counts in alginate gel and monolayer was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The results of the MTT test in second week showed that the number of alive cells is significantly higher in alginate gel (P <0.001). Finally, the result of the Van Kossa method proved extracellular matrix in both experimental groups.Conclusion: Results showed that alginate gel better can support duplication and survival of osteoblasts compared to monolayer culture. This may be attributed to the biological properties of this gel; alginate gel porosity provides conditions under which cellular and metabolic activities are accelerated.

    Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal symbiosis with Sorbus torminalis does not vary with soil nutrients and enzyme activities across different sites

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    Effects of soil chemical properties on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) symbiosis with wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis L. Crantz) were examined for study the rates of root colonization at three forest sites: Kheiroud, Lalis, and Takrin in northern Iran. Soil characteristics including pH, available phosphorus (P), potassium (K), organic matter, total nitrogen, acid and alkaline phosphatase activities, CaCO3, spore density (SD) and AMF colonization of soil and root samples were analyzed. The study sites were investigated in spring and autumn to highlight the effects of soil chemical properties on AMF statues for better nurseries and reforestation management of this rare tree species in forests. Changes in soil pH, P, K, organic matter, total nitrogen, acid and alkaline phosphatase, CaCO3, SD, and AMF colonization of soil and root samples were analyzed at the study sites. K, pH, root colonization, SD and acid phosphatase activity showed no significant differences among sites in spring and autumn, while total nitrogen, P, organic matter and alkaline phosphatase activities showed significant differences among sites and seasons. AMF colonization rates were more than 51% and 32% of roots in spring and autumn, respectively. No correlation between root colonization and soil chemical parameters in spring and autumn were detected. There was no correlation between percentage of AM root colonization and SD nor other soil parameters in spring and autumn. SD and CaCO3 were significantly negatively correlated in spring and autumn. Despite differences in soil characteristics, the results showed that SD and root colonization were not significantly different among the sites. They also showed that wild service trees had strong symbiosis with AMF, while soil properties might not have a significant effect on this symbiosis. Therefore, colonized seedlings can be considered as an appropriated method for reforestation and conservation of this rare tree species

    Investigation of Some Qualitative Characteristics of Sludge Produced in Hamadan Wastewater Treatment Plant and Its Application in Agricultural Lands

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    In this study, qualitative characteristics of the sludge produced in Hamadan wastewater treatment plant and the feasibility of its application in agricultural lands were investigated. Samples were taken from the primary and secondary sludge and indices such as VS/TS, PH, TKN, COD, TKN, SOUR, Na, Ca, SAR, heavy metals and biological properties (the mean fecal coliform count and the number of parasitic eggs) were measured. The results were compared with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) standards (40 FCR-503). The results showed that the VS/TS ratio of the raw sludge was 0.8, 0.55, and 0.55 and that of the secondary sludge was 0.65, 0.28, and 0.32 for fall, winter, and summer, respectively. The average concentration of COD, TKN, SOUR, Na, and Ca for the initial sludge was 51283, 107, 0.50, 609, and 952 and for secondary sludge, it was 35595, 81, 4.90, 306, and 493 mg/L, respectively. The MPN for primary and secondary sludge was determined to be 19.83 × 106 and 186 × 106 , respectively and the average number of parasite eggs in primary and secondary sludge was 7.05 and 7.2 in 4 g of dry solids. Entamoeba coli had the highest number of parasite. The results of this study showed that the highest concentration of heavy metals in the sludge was 21396 mg/kg. The values obtained for the above-mentioned indices and heavy metals were in standards range. The results of this study show that none of the primary and secondary sludge samples has been properly stabilized. The values obtained for biological characteristics of sludge were not in the standard range. Therefore, it was revealed that the use of sludge for agriculture needed more stabilization

    Examining the Relationship between Sleep Quality and Academic Performance with the Degree of Dependence on Smartphone during the Coronavirus Pandemic

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    Background and Objective: After the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Iran, to pre-vent the spread of coronavirus, it was decided for classes to be held virtually. Even though this decision reduced the spread of the virus, the students were exposed to smartphone addiction, which is believed to have high comorbidity with psychological problems. The current study aims to examine the relationship between sleep quality and academic per-formance with the degree of dependence on smartphone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: The current research was a cross-sectional study with 254 adolescent students participating in virtual classes. This study was conducted in 2020-2021. The participants filled out the following questionnaires online: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), smartphone addiction scale (SAS), and Educational Performance Test (EPT). The data were analyzed using SPSS software, descriptive statistics [frequency, pearson correlation, mean, standard deviation (SD)], and inferential statistics (simultaneous regression) (P < 0.05). Results: There was a significant correlation between components of addiction to the Internet and the study’s variables. The results of correlation analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between Internet addiction and academic performance (Pearson correlation = -0.57, P = 0.01) and between Internet addiction and sleep quality (Pearson correlation = 0.47, P = 0.01). Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that after the COVID-19 pandemic and virtual education, Internet addiction could be a risk factor for decreasing sleep quality and academic performance in students

    MicroRNA-122 in patients with hepatitis B and hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

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    Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is known as a serious problem in the domain of public health and approximately 350 million people across the world are affected with this infectious disease. As well, microRNAs are recognized as a type of small non-coding RNAs that can be widely used as a diagnostic biomarker and prognosis method of special diseases. In this respect, microRNA-122 or miR-122 can play a significant role in the pathogenesis of several hepatic diseases. Given the importance of microRNA-122 in the liver as well as its pathology, this study focused on the potential functions of microRNA-122 in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of HBV infection. In this regard, the findings of previous studies had indicated that expression of microRNA-122 in patients with HBV infection could be significantly deregulated. The results of this study were consistent with the idea that diagnosis and treatment of this infectious disease using microRNA-122 could be an efficient method. Keywords Author Keywords:Hepatitis B virus (HBV); microRNA-122; hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); biomarker KeyWords Plus:REGION CONFERS RISK; MIRNA-122-BINDING SITE; CIRCULATING MICRORNAS; REGULATORY CIRCUITRY; CELL-PROLIFERATION; VIRAL REPLICATION; DOWN-REGULATION; LIVER-CANCER; MIR-122; EXPRESSIO

    Global, regional, and national cancer incidence, mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-Adjusted life-years for 29 cancer groups, 1990 to 2017 : A systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study

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    Importance: Cancer and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are now widely recognized as a threat to global development. The latest United Nations high-level meeting on NCDs reaffirmed this observation and also highlighted the slow progress in meeting the 2011 Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and the third Sustainable Development Goal. Lack of situational analyses, priority setting, and budgeting have been identified as major obstacles in achieving these goals. All of these have in common that they require information on the local cancer epidemiology. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study is uniquely poised to provide these crucial data. Objective: To describe cancer burden for 29 cancer groups in 195 countries from 1990 through 2017 to provide data needed for cancer control planning. Evidence Review: We used the GBD study estimation methods to describe cancer incidence, mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, and disability-Adjusted life-years (DALYs). Results are presented at the national level as well as by Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator of income, educational attainment, and total fertility rate. We also analyzed the influence of the epidemiological vs the demographic transition on cancer incidence. Findings: In 2017, there were 24.5 million incident cancer cases worldwide (16.8 million without nonmelanoma skin cancer [NMSC]) and 9.6 million cancer deaths. The majority of cancer DALYs came from years of life lost (97%), and only 3% came from years lived with disability. The odds of developing cancer were the lowest in the low SDI quintile (1 in 7) and the highest in the high SDI quintile (1 in 2) for both sexes. In 2017, the most common incident cancers in men were NMSC (4.3 million incident cases); tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer (1.5 million incident cases); and prostate cancer (1.3 million incident cases). The most common causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for men were TBL cancer (1.3 million deaths and 28.4 million DALYs), liver cancer (572000 deaths and 15.2 million DALYs), and stomach cancer (542000 deaths and 12.2 million DALYs). For women in 2017, the most common incident cancers were NMSC (3.3 million incident cases), breast cancer (1.9 million incident cases), and colorectal cancer (819000 incident cases). The leading causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for women were breast cancer (601000 deaths and 17.4 million DALYs), TBL cancer (596000 deaths and 12.6 million DALYs), and colorectal cancer (414000 deaths and 8.3 million DALYs). Conclusions and Relevance: The national epidemiological profiles of cancer burden in the GBD study show large heterogeneities, which are a reflection of different exposures to risk factors, economic settings, lifestyles, and access to care and screening. The GBD study can be used by policy makers and other stakeholders to develop and improve national and local cancer control in order to achieve the global targets and improve equity in cancer care. © 2019 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

    Genomic investigations of unexplained acute hepatitis in children

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    Since its first identification in Scotland, over 1,000 cases of unexplained paediatric hepatitis in children have been reported worldwide, including 278 cases in the UK1. Here we report an investigation of 38 cases, 66 age-matched immunocompetent controls and 21 immunocompromised comparator participants, using a combination of genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and immunohistochemical methods. We detected high levels of adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2) DNA in the liver, blood, plasma or stool from 27 of 28 cases. We found low levels of adenovirus (HAdV) and human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) in 23 of 31 and 16 of 23, respectively, of the cases tested. By contrast, AAV2 was infrequently detected and at low titre in the blood or the liver from control children with HAdV, even when profoundly immunosuppressed. AAV2, HAdV and HHV-6 phylogeny excluded the emergence of novel strains in cases. Histological analyses of explanted livers showed enrichment for T cells and B lineage cells. Proteomic comparison of liver tissue from cases and healthy controls identified increased expression of HLA class 2, immunoglobulin variable regions and complement proteins. HAdV and AAV2 proteins were not detected in the livers. Instead, we identified AAV2 DNA complexes reflecting both HAdV-mediated and HHV-6B-mediated replication. We hypothesize that high levels of abnormal AAV2 replication products aided by HAdV and, in severe cases, HHV-6B may have triggered immune-mediated hepatic disease in genetically and immunologically predisposed children
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