Normal crossings degenerations of symplectic manifolds

We use local Hamiltonian torus actions to degenerate a symplectic manifold to a normal crossings symplectic variety in a smooth one-parameter family. This construction, motivated in part by the Gross-Siebert and B. Parker's programs, contains a multifold version of the usual (two-fold) symplectic cut construction and in particular splits a symplectic manifold into several symplectic manifolds containing normal crossings symplectic divisors with shared irreducible components in one step

Increased expression of two alternative spliced variants of CD1d molecule in human gastric cancer

Background: CD1d presents glycolipid antigens to invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells. The role of CD1d in the development of peptic ulcer and gastric cancer has not been revealed, yet. Objective: To clarify the expression of alternatively spliced variants of CD1d in peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. Methods: Patients with dyspepsia were selected and divided into three groups of non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD), peptic ulcer disease (PUD), and gastric cancer (GC), according to their endoscopic and histopathological examinations. H. pylori infection was diagnosed by rapid urease test and histopathology. The expression levels of V2, V4, and V5 spliced variants of CD1d molecule were determined by quantitative Reverse Transcriptase PCR. Results: Relative gene expression levels of V4 were higher in GC patients (n=37) than those in NUD (n=49) and PUD (n=51) groups (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Moreover, GC patients showed higher expression levels of V5 compared to NUD and PUD groups (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Positive correlation coefficients were attained between V4 and V5 expression in patients with PUD (r=0.734, p<0.0001) and GC (r=0.423, p<0.01), but not in patients with NUD. Among NUD patients, the expression levels of V4, but not V5, were higher in H. pylori-positive patients than in H. pylori-negative ones (p<0.01). Conclusion: Collectively, both membrane-bound (V4) and soluble (V5) isoforms of CD1d were over-expressed in gastric tumor tissues, suggesting that they are involved in anti-tumor immune responses. © 2015, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factors A and C in patients with peptic ulcers and gastric cancer

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most important growth factors for metastatic tumors. To clarify the role of VEGF-A and C in patients with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) or gastric cancer (GC), we evaluated the expression levels of these two molecules. We also analyzed the effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on VEGF-A and C expression levels

Eventration of Diaphragm or Pseudo Pleural Effusion?

Background: Physicians frequently encounter chest-x ray reports of pleural effusion in patients. Thoracocentesis is the second step to diagnosis, but if there isn’t any effusion actually, thoracocentesis may lead to complication. Case Report: A 47-year-old man with a history of dyspnea and dry cough and posteroanterior (PA) chest x-ray (and right lateral decubitus) report of pleural effusion referred for thoracocentesis, but vesicular sounds at over the lungs were normal. Spiral lung CT scan revealed localized eventration of diaphragm. Conclusion: Localized eventration of right diaphragm may cause the appearance of pleural effusion in PA and also right lateral decubitus chest x-ray

Singularity Avoidance of Charged Black Holes in Loop Quantum Gravity

Based on spherically symmetric reduction of loop quantum gravity, quantization of the portion interior to the horizon of a Reissner-Nordstr\"{o}m black hole is studied. Classical phase space variables of all regions of such a black hole are calculated for the physical case $M^2> Q^2$. This calculation suggests a candidate for a classically unbounded function of which all divergent components of the curvature scalar are composed. The corresponding quantum operator is constructed and is shown explicitly to possess a bounded operator. Comparison of the obtained result with the one for the Swcharzschild case shows that the upper bound of the curvature operator of a charged black hole reduces to that of Schwarzschild at the limit $Q \rightarrow 0$. This local avoidance of singularity together with non-singular evolution equation indicates the role quantum geometry can play in treating classical singularity of such black holes.Comment: To be appeared in International Journal of Theoretical Physic

Effect of continuous care model on emotional health and social connection aspects of quality of life of infertile women

Background and aim: Infertility and its treatment affect as a crisis on various aspect of quality of life in women that is the most important aspects of quality of life of emotional issues and social connection. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of continuous care model on emotional health and social connection in infertile women. Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 80 infertile women referred to infertility centers affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences during 2015 were entered into study by simple (convenient) sampling method. The data were collected by demographic characteristics questionnaire and fertility quality of life questionnaire (FertiQol). 2-3 training session was held for implementation of continuous care model. Quality of life in infertile women was evaluated during two stages: before intervention and 2 months after intervention in evaluation stage. Data were analyzed using SPSS by the Independent t-test, Paired t-test, Chi-square and Exact fisher test and p< 0.05 was considered significant. Results: in the case and control groups, mean of quality of life in emotional health after the intervention was 16.75±3.572 and 8.85±3.971 and in social connection was 17.98±2.922 and 11.45±3.672, respectively. A significant difference between intervention and control group was observed (P=0.002). In the control group, a significant decrease in scores on emotional and social areas after the end of the intervention was observed (P<0.001). Conclusion: Implementation of continuous care model improves emotional health and social connection in infertile women. It is recommended that continuous care model to be used as a easy, affordable and available care model

Discovery of Five New Pulsars in Archival Data

Reprocessing of the Parkes Multibeam Pulsar Survey has resulted in the discovery of five previously unknown pulsars and several as-yet-unconfirmed candidates. PSR J0922-52 has a period of 9.68 ms and a DM of 122.4 pc cm^-3. PSR J1147-66 has a period of 3.72 ms and a DM of 133.8 pc cm^-3. PSR J1227-6208 has a period of 34.53 ms, a DM of 362.6 pc cm^-3, is in a 6.7 day binary orbit, and was independently detected in an ongoing high-resolution Parkes survey by Thornton et al. and also in independent processing by Einstein@Home volunteers. PSR J1546-59 has a period of 7.80 ms and a DM of 168.3 pc cm^-3. PSR J1725-3853 is an isolated 4.79-ms pulsar with a DM of 158.2 pc cm^-3. These pulsars were likely missed in earlier processing efforts due to their high DMs and short periods and the large number of candidates that needed to be looked through. These discoveries suggest that further pulsars are awaiting discovery in the multibeam survey data.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables, accepted to Ap

Evaluation of attention bias in morphine and methamphetamine abusers towards emotional scenes during early abstinence: An eye-tracking study

Introduction: We hypothesized that inappropriate attention during the period of abstinence in individuals with substance use disorder can result in an inadequate perception of emotion and unsuitable reaction to emotional scenes. The main aim of this research was to evaluate the attentional bias towards emotional images in former substance abusers and compare it to healthy adults. Methods: Paired images of general scenes consisting of pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral images were presented to subjects for 3 s while their attentional bias and eye movements were measured by eye tracking. The participants were 72 male adults consisting of 23 healthy control, 24 morphine former abusers, and 25 methamphetamine former abusers. The former abusers were recruited from a private addiction quitting center and addiction rehabilitation campus. The healthy individuals were selected from general population. Number and duration of first fixation, duration of first gaze, and sustained attention towards emotional scenes were measured as the main variables and the data were analyzed using the repeated measures ANOVA. Results: A significant difference was observed between former morphine abusers and healthy control in terms of number and duration of first fixations and first gaze duration towards pleasant images. Discussion: Individuals with morphine use disorder have more problems with attending to emotional images compared to methamphetamine abusers and healthy people

Working memory and response inhibition in patients with bipolar I disorder during euthymic period

Background: Several cognitive domains, including attention, memory, and executive functions are impaired in bipolar disorder. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate two executive functions (working memory and response inhibition) in patients with bipolar I disorder during remission of the symptoms. Patients and Methods: In this case-control design, 30 bipolar I patients (18 to 45 years old) were matched with 30 ones in the control group in terms of age, gender, and education. The patients were selected from Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital (a hospital affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences) from May to October 2013. They were evaluated and contrasted using working memory (Spatial Span and Spatial Working Memory (SSP and SWM)) and response inhibition (Stop Signal Task (SST)) tests. Results: We used independent t-tests for comparing and contrasting 2 groups on total and sub-scales scores of these 3 tests. In terms of SWM test there was a significant difference in between-group error between the two groups (P = 0.05); there was also a meaningful difference between the strategies used by two groups (P = 0.05). In SSP test, a significant difference appeared between averages of span length of the two groups. In the first and last item delays, there was also a clear difference, but the total error index was not noticeably different. In SST test, the direction error indicator in start-stop trials indicated a major difference, while in successful stops ratio, the case group had a lower ratio. In addition, reaction time to stop signs in bipolar group was meaningfully lower than the control group. Conclusion: In conclusion, even during remission phase, executive dysfunction is detectable at least in some areas in patients with bipolar disorder. © 2015, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences

Photo-Catalytic Activity of ZnO Supported on H-ZSM-5 Zeolite to Reduce Cr(VI) from Aqueous Solutions

Abstract Aims: The application of photocatalytic processes to remove heavy metals in aqueous solutions and industrial wastewater are regarded as extremely effective, clean and without producing waste methods. The goal of the present study was to investigate the photocatalytic activity of ZnO based on H-ZSM-5 zeolite support. Materials &amp; Methods: ZnO/H-ZSM-5 composite synthesized by impregnation method successfully, and photo-reduction of Cr(VI) was investigated via this composite in present of UV light irradiation. The prepared composite was characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). Data was analyzed by repeated measurement statistical test. Findings: ZnO/H-ZSM-5 (79.5) had better removal photo-reduction activity than pure H-ZSM-5 (8.7; p=0.003) zeolite and ZnO (58.8; p=0.003). The initial concentration of Cr(VI) was a highly influential factor in photo-reduction of Cr(VI); In the way that when the initial concentration increased from 10 to 40mg/l, the photo-reduction percentage decreased from 92.5 to 57.7 in constant operational conditions (p=0.001). Conclusion: ZnO/H-ZSM-5 composite has higher removal photo-catalytic activity than pure ZnO and HZSM-5 zeolite. Photo-reduction of Cr(VI) by ZnO/H-ZSM-5 composite is an efficient technology for the treatment of water and wastewater containing high concentration of Cr(VI)