On the classification of consistent boundary conditions for f(R) \mathit{f}(\mathit{R})-Gravity

Using a completely covariant approach, we discuss the role of boundary conditions (BCs) and the corresponding Gibbons--Hawking--York (GHY) terms in $\mathit{f}(\mathit{R})$-gravity in arbitrary dimensions. We show that $f(\mathit{R})$-gravity, as a higher derivative theory, is not described by a degenerate Lagrangian, in its original form. Hence, without introducing additional variables, one can not obtain consistent BCs, even by adding the GHY terms (except for $f(\mathit{R})=R$). However, following the Ostrogradsky approach, we can introduce a scalar field in the framework of Brans-Dicke formalism to the system to have consistent BCs by considering appropriate GHY terms. In addition to the Dirichlet BC, the GHY terms for both Neumann and two types of mixed BCs are derived. We show the remarkable result that the $f(\mathit{R})$-gravity is itself compatible with one type of mixed BCs, in $D$ dimension, i.e. it doesn't require any GHY term. For each BC, we rewrite the GHY term in terms of Arnowit-Deser-Misner (ADM) variables.Comment: 21 page

The relation between severe density of Helicobacter pylori in biopsy with cigarette smoking and age in infected patients

Background and Aim: Helicobacter pylori infection is currently endemic worldwide health problem. The infection causes variety of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric adenocarcinoma. It is clear that smoking is important to the development of disorders like intestinal disease. This study determines the relationship between H.pylori density and smoking. Materials and Methods: The study was performed in 247 patients (20-80 years) both sexes, with dyspepsia symptoms referred to Hajar hospital. Demographic data were recorded, such as age and smoking history. Patients were checked by 16 SrRNA and glmM genes polymerase chain reaction for H. pylori. Density of H.pylori graded according to the number of H.pylori bacteria counted in light microscopy by (x1000 magnified).also patient had to have smoked for more than 1 year. Results: We observed 67.61% of patients (167 of 247) were positive for H. pylori, and 32.39% were negative (80 of 247). In patients with dyspepsia, 36.4% in 20-40 age range, 42.1% in 41-61 and 21.5% in 62-80. Of total patients, 57.1% were smokers and in this number, 78.01% were H. pylori positive. Also study showed, in smokers and 3th age range, sever density of H.pylori was more than nonsmokers and other ranges. A significant difference (P<0.05) was observed when we compared density of bacteria by age and smoker with nonsmoker groups. Conclusions: H.pylori sever density can be related by cigarette smoking and age

The most important Iranian medicinal plants with immunomodulatory property according to traditional medicine and modern research findings

nnate immunity is the body's first line of defense against different pathogenic agents. Macrophages and neutrophils are two main cells that contribute significantly to innate and acquired immune responses, and important effector cells to destroy harmful agents. Function of these cells can be modulated by natural and synthetic compounds. Nowadays, the immunomodulatory effects of herbal plants is a hot research issue worldwide as a good candidate to strengthen immune system. The aim of this review article is to report the most important medicinal plants of Iran with immunomodulatory effect. The search terms including immunomodulatory, medicinal plants, and Iran were used to search for relevant articles in some national databases such as Scientific Information Databases, and Google Scholar search engine. Thyme, Pennyroyal, Garlic, Echinaceae and Olive were found to be traditionally used to strengthen the immune system of the body. Aloe (Aloe barbadensis), Palm (Phoenix ductylifera), Fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare) and Cumin seed (Cuminum cyminum) have been reported to have immunomodulatory effects according to scientific research

Correlation between expression levels of mRNA IL-6 and H. pylori-infected patients with cagA

خلاصه سابقه و هدف: عفونت هلیکوباکترپیلوری با جذب سلول&zwnj;های التهابی مانند نوتروفیل، ماکروفاژ و سلول&zwnj;های T و B اختصاصی هلیکوباکتری به ناحیه درگیر عفونت همراه می&zwnj;باشد. مسیرهای مولکولی کنترل پاسخ ایمنی بر علیه این باکتری خیلی پیچیده می باشد، اما معمولاً سایتوکاین&zwnj;های که در ناحیه درگیر عفونت تولید می&zwnj;شوند در حفظ و گسترش عفونت نقش دارند. هدف از این مطالعه بررسی بیان ژن IL-6 در سطح مخاط بیماران آلوده به هلیکوباکترپیلوری و غیرآلوده و همچنین ارتباط آن با فاکتور ویرولانس cagA در میان افراد آلوده به هلیکوباکترپیلوی می&zwnj;باشد مواد و روش ها: این مطالعه از نوع موردی- شاهدی می&zwnj;باشد. از 58 نفر از مبتلایان به هلیکوباکترپیلوری و 44 نفر از افرادی که آلوده به این باکتری نبودند توسط آندوسکوپی بیوپسی تهیه شد. و بعد از استخراجmRNA ، توسط real-time PCR، میزان بیانmRNA IL-6 اندازه گیری شد. فاکتور بیماری زای cagA توسط PCR ارزیابی شد. بیان سایتوکاین ها در دو گروه آلوده و غیرآلوده با استفاده از تست T-Test مورد آنالیز قرار گرفتند. یافته ها: سطح بیان IL-6 mRNA در بیماران دارای هلیکوباکترپیلوری نسبت به افراد غیرآلوده به بطور معنی داری بالاتر می&zwnj;باشد. ارتباط معنی&zwnj;داری بین فاکتور بیماری&zwnj;زای cagA و سطح بیان IL-6 mRNA مشاهده نشد. نتیجه گیری: افزایش بیان IL-6 mRNA ممکن است مستقل از فاکتور ویرولانس cagA و در ایجاد التهاب معده همراه با هلیکوباکترپیلوری نقش مهمی داشته باشد

Finite Order BFFT Method

We have proposed a method in the context of BFFT approach that leads to truncation of the infinite series regarded to constraints in the extended phase space, as well as other physical quantities (such as Hamiltonian). This has been done for cases where the matrix of Poisson brackets among the constraints is symplectic or constant. The method is applied to Proca model, single self dual chiral bosons and chiral Schwinger models as examples.Comment: 14 pages, no figure to appear in Int. J. of Mod. Phys.

SNATCH TECHNIQUE VALIDATION USING COMPUTATIONAL METHODS: A GENETIC ALGORITHM APPROACH

An analytical model based on a 6 degrees of freedom robotic manipulator is adopted to represent an individual athlete during weightlifting, snatch technique. The performance of an athlete is observed and the barbell trajectory of the lifter is considered as the lifting clue of our model. The inverse kinematics problem is solved using genetic algorithm. The results could be adopted in enhancing athletic performance through provision of an alternative weightlifting technique for the individual athlete. The performance of the athlete is compared with the generated motion. It is shown that the overall torque applied to the joints can be lessened by having the trunk horizontal angle constant during the first pull. The computational support of the technique is the main focus of the paper

Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure (CSRD) and Financial Distressed Risk (FDR): Does Institutional Ownership Matter?

This study aims to investigate the effect of corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) on financial distressed risk (FDR) among firms listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE). This paper also examines whether there is a negative linkage between institutional ownership as a corporate governance mechanism and corporate bankruptcy. The final research purpose is to analyze if there is a moderating effect of institutional owners on the relationship between CSRD and FDR too. The study sample consists of 200 firms listed on the TSE between 2013 and 2018, and the statistical model is logistic regression. When FDR is assessed under both Article 141 of Iran's business law and the Altman Z-score model, our results on the main research hypotheses are quite similar. Considering the social and cultural conditions and economic situation of the Iranian market, the results show that firms with a high level of CSR disclosure are not able to make themselves more creditworthy and do not have better access to financing, resulting in more financial insolvency. Our findings confirm institutional shareholders play a vital role in facilitating a firm's emergence from bankruptcy. The results also demonstrate financial distress risk is less seen among companies with more institutional owners that disclose more CSR information. In other words, since the goals related to CSR are long-term and Iranian institutional investors have a long-term horizon towards the company, the presence of more institutional owners within a firm push managers to provide additional voluntary CSR disclosure so firms can maintain the trust of their shareholders at the highest possible level and prevent financial distress. Our additional analysis indicates there is a positive association between financial leverage and firm failure, whereas the current ratio and ROA are negatively connected with corporate bankruptcy. Finally, when FDR is assessed on the Altman Z-score model, our evidence supports a negative relation between purchase and sale-related party transactions and bankruptcy risk, which is consistent with the efficient transaction hypothesis

Occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of emergent Arcobacter spp. isolated from cattle and sheep in Iran

This study is conducted to determine the occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of Arcobacter spp. isolated from clinically healthy food animals. A total of 308 samples from cattle (200) and sheep (108) were collected from Shiraz slaughterhouse, southern Iran to investigate the presence of the important Arcobacter spp. using cultivation and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility of Arcobacter isolates was determined for 18 antibiotics using disk diffusion method. Among 308 samples, 27 (8.7) and 44 (14.28) were positive for the presence of Arcobacter species with cultivation and PCR procedures, respectively. The predominant species was A. butzleri in both cattle (58.33) and sheep (55). In addition, concurrent incidence of the species was observed in 25 of the positive samples. All Arcobacter isolates were resistant to rifampicin, vancomycin, ceftriaxone, trimethoprim and cephalothin. The isolates showed high susceptibility to tetracycline, oxytetracycline, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, kanamycin, amikacin, gentamicin and enrofloxacin. No significant difference among cattle and sheep isolates in resistance pattern was observed. The results indicate that cattle and sheep are significant intestinal carriers for Arcobacter spp. Moreover, tetracycline and aminoglycosides showed great effects on Arcobacter species in antibiogram test and can be used for treatment of human Arcobacter infections. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd

Silybum marianum: Beyond Hepatoprotection.

Silybum marianum is a medicinal plant that has long been used as hepatoprotective remedy. It has been used for the treatment of numerous liver disorders characterized by functional impairment or degenerative necrosis. Its hepatoprotective activity is unique and acts in different ways, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, cell permeability regulator and membrane stabilizer, stimulation of liver regeneration and inhibition of deposition in collagen fibers, which may lead to cirrhosis. Most of documented data with Silybum marianum are about liver disorders; however, recently several beneficial properties on a wide variety of other disorders such as renal protection, hypolipidemic and anti-atherosclerosis activities, cardiovascular protection, prevention of insulin resistance, especially in cirrhotic patients, cancer, and Alzheimer prevention. It is also used as a food remedy. This review article aims to present different aspects of Silybum marianum, especially the data in recently published articles about its effects on different diseases, apart from presenting the aspects of its hepatoprotection