Entanglement and quantum correlations in the XX spin-1/21/2 honeycomb lattice

The ground state phase diagram of the dimerized spin-1/2 XX honeycomb model in presence of a transverse magnetic field (TF) is known. With the absence of the magnetic field, two quantum phases, namely, the N\'eel and the dimerized phases have been identified. Moreover, canted N\'eel and the paramagnetic (PM) phases also emerge by applying the magnetic field. In this paper, using two complementary numerical exact techniques, Lanczos exact diagonalization, and Density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) methods, we study this model by focusing on the quantum correlations, the concurrence, and the quantum discord (QD) among nearest-neighbor spins. We show that the quantum correlations can capture the position of the quantum critical points in the whole range of the ground state phase diagram consistent with previous results. Although the concurrence and the QD are short-range, informative about long-ranged critical correlations. In addition, we address a "magnetic-entanglement" behavior that starts from an entangled field around the saturation field.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Evaluation of bacterial and fungal contamination in the health care workers? hands and rings in the intensive care unit

Introduction. Nosocomial infections remain a major challenge to the health care system and result in significant mortality, morbidity, and economic burden. Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are at great risk of acquiring nosocomial infections. The objective of this study was to determine the contamination rate (bacterial and fungal) of the health care workers? (HCWs?) hands and ring in ICU. Methods. All health care workers were screened during the day shift in Emam hospital ICU. After obtaining informed consent, convenience samples of HCWs? hands and rings were cultured on specific media during their routine work hours, always after a patient care episode. The fungal and bacterial isolates were identified using standard microbiological procedures. Results. A total of 40 subjects were selected in this study (28females, 12males). The rate of contamination of hands and rings was observed in 73.1%. Most of isolates are known to cause nosocomial infections which included: 23% staphylococci, 7.9% Klebsiella spp., 4.7% Enterobacter spp., 3.9% Escherichia coli, 3.1% Acinetobacter spp., 2.3% Pseudomonas spp., and 27.7% were colonized with fungi. The fungal isolates were 16.6% Candida spp., 3.9% Rhodotorula spp., 3.1% Aspergillus niger, and 3.9% Aspergillus flavus. Conclusion. According to these results HCWs? hands and their rings were contaminated with various types of microorganisms. Medical and hospital personals must follow careful hand-washing techniques to minimize transmission of disease and should remove rings, watches, and bracelets before washing their hands and entering the ICU

Retinoic acid effects on nuclear maturation of bovine oocytes in vitro

In the present study, the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (t-RA) administration during in vitro maturation (IVM) on bovine oocytes maturation was determined. Concentrations of t-RA (RA; 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 μM) and 0.1% ethanol (vehicle) were included in the maturation medium. Ovaries collected from the local abattoir were transported to the laboratory in in 0.9% NaCl with 100 IU/ml penicillin and 100 in vitro maturation (IVM) on bovine oocytes maturation was determined. Concentrations of t-RA (RA; 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 μM) and 0.1% ethanol (vehicle) were included in the maturation medium. Ovaries collected from the local abattoir were transported to the laboratory in in 0.9% NaCl with 100 IU/ml penicillin and 100  in vitro maturation (IVM) on bovine oocytes maturation was determined. Concentrations of t-RA (RA; 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 μM) and 0.1% ethanol (vehicle) were included in the maturation medium. Ovaries collected from the local abattoir were transported to the laboratory in in 0.9% NaCl with 100 IU/ml penicillin and 100 g/ml streptomycin at 30 - 35°C within 1-2 h after collection. The oocytes of antral follicles, 2 to 8 mm in diameter, were recovered by aspiration. After preliminary evaluation, the oocytes were selected and washed four times in HEPES-TCM 199 supplemented with 2% FBS, 0.2 mM sodium pyruvate, 100 IU/ml penicillin and 100 g/ml streptomycin. Then 10 cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were subjected to each droplet of maturation medium and incubated at 38.5°C, 5% CO2 and 95% humidity for 24 h. Maturation medium was bicarbonate-buffered TCM199 supplemented with 10% FBS, 0.2 mM sodium pyruvate, 5 μg/ml bovine FSH, 0.01 IU/ml bovine LH, 100 IU/ml penicillin and 100 g/ml streptomycin. Results show different concentrations of t-RA have no effect on cumulus expansion. The rate of oocytes developing to the MII stage compared to control, vehicle, and 0.25 μM groups was significantly increased with 1 μM t-RA treatment (

Influence of palm oil fuel ash on physico-mechanical properties of prepacked aggregate concrete

Prepacked aggregate concrete (PAC) is a special type of concrete which is made by placing coarse aggregate in a formwork and injecting a grout either by pump or under gravity force to fill the voids. Utilization of pozzolanic materials in traditional concrete has become increasingly extensive, and this trend is expected to continue in prepacked concrete as well. Palm oil fuel ash (POFA) is one of the pozzolanic ashes, which has been recognized as a good pozzolanic material. This paper presents the results of some experimental tests on the performance behavior of POFA in developing physical and mechanical properties of prepacked aggregate concrete. Four concrete mixes namely prepacked concrete with 100% OPC as control, and PAC with 10%, 20% and 30% POFA were cast, and the temperature growth due to heat of hydration in all the mixtures was recorded. It has been found that POFA significantly reduced the temperature rise in prepacked concrete. The compressive and tensile strength, however, increased with replacement of POFA. The results obtained and the observation made in this study suggest that the replacement of OPC by POFA is beneficial, particularly for prepacked mass concrete where thermal cracking due to extreme heat rise is of great concern

The Effectiveness of Hypertext Annotations on Learners' Vocabulary Learning: A Meta-analysis

CALL) programs have been incorporated into language classrooms over the past five decades, it has become more important to find a clear answer to questions such as to what extent, and under which moderator variables CALL programs can yield more effective outcomes as compared to traditional language instruction. The present meta-analysis is a comprehensive investigation to determine the extent of the effectiveness of hypertext annotations on the learners' vocabulary learning.  Moreover, the study aimed at identifying the moderator variables that influence the heterogeneity of the effect of various studies. Methods: The statistical population of the present study consisted of all the studies conducted in the past related to the effectiveness of hypertext annotations on learners' vocabulary learning. To this aim, an exhaustive research of the multiple electronic databases was carried out in order to identify all the studies examining the relative effectiveness of CALL on enhancing learners' vocabulary learning The main criterion for selecting the studies to be analyzed in the present research was their publication in journals or proceedings of conferences during the period between 1950 to 2014.  Concurrently, the experts in this area were also consulted for articles that had not been identified in the primary search. Eventually, the search process resulted in the identification of 132 articles of potential relevance to the present meta-analysis. In the next stage, all studies were investigated more carefully and examined based on the checklist which was the criterion for the final selection of those studies  that should be included in the present meta-analysis. Finally, a total sample of 36 studies met the required criteria and selected for the final analysis. Data analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-analysis Software (Version 2). Findings: With respect to the overall effect size of the hypertext annotations on the students’ vocabulary acquisition, the results of 36 study in the present meta-analysis revealed that hypertext annotations had a large, positive, significant effect on students' vocabulary. Acquisition (+140).  In addition, there was a highly significant heterogeneity in the distribution of the effect sizes in the meta-analysis under investigation. To further explore the sources of the heterogeneity between the effect sizes across studies, moderator analyses were administered in terms of six variables (research design, sample size, proficiency level, age, duration of the program, year of publication). It was found that the variable of  the sample size had significantly affected the inconsistency of the effect sizes across the studies under investigation to the extent that studies with a sample size of more than 60 individuals produced a large effect size, whereas studies with sample size of less than 60 individuals generated medium effect size. Another significant finding was that the mean of the effect sizes statistically differed across different duration levels  of the teaching program. That is, studies with a higher duration of teaching program had a larger mean effect size than those with a lower duration, indicating that the learners' vocabulary achievement enhances significantly as the length of the teaching program increases. Moreover, the results revealed that publication year was also a significant moderator variable so that the studies published in the recent years had a higher effect size as compared with those published in earlier years. Other findings revealed that the dissimilarity of the effect sizes in the present meta-analysis was not influenced by the differences among research design, proficiency level, and age of the language learners. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present meta-analysis, it is necessary to integrate CALL into traditional language classes in order to reach better learning outcomes. With respect to future research, the researchers are recommended to provide more details of the study so that it could be possible to confirm or reject the factors that are effective in the role of computer in second language (L2) learning.  ===================================================================================== COPYRIGHTS  ©2021 The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, as long as the original authors and source are cited. No permission is required from the authors or the publishers.  ====================================================================================

Perspectives of faculty members toward Iranian National Olympiad for medical students: A qualitative study

Objective - Regarding to the status of medical science Olympiads in medical science pedagogy, the views of beneficiaries are needed to be examined on them, in particular, faculty members who are the most interested group in the given issue. As such, the purpose of this study is the evaluation of views of the faculty members on the mission and performance of medical science Olympiads in Iran. Material and Methods - The data for this qualitative study were collected through semi-structured interviews and then were analyzed using the content-analysis method. Finally, 95 members of faculty board were selected from universities of medical sciences in Iran and data collection continued till data saturation. Results - Four themes including: points of strength in Olympiads, points of weakness in Olympiads, attitudes of faculty members to Olympiads, and suggestions for better performance of the Olympiads were extracted. The points of strength consisted of: mission, the performing procedures, and the scientific level of the competitions. The points of weakness included: mission, the performing procedures, and the scientific level of the competitions. Most of the participants (79) had positive attitude toward the Olympiads. Participants presented 8 strategies in order to manage the competitions better. Conclusion - It necessary to do more researches to identify the related problems and to use the required. Applying instructor's points and views on the strengths, weakness, and suggestions can be efficient in policy making, designing and performing medical Olympiads. © 2016, Azami-Aghdash S., Ghojazadeh M., Nazavar R., Yaghoubi S., Vahedi L

The Comparison of vaginal cream of mixing yogurt, honey and clotrimazole on symptoms of vaginal candidiasis

BACKGROUND: Vulvovaginal candidiasis is known as one of the most common fungal infection among women of reproductive age and considered as an important public health problem. In recent years, due to resistance to common antifungal medication, the use of traditional medicine of anti-fungal and herbal treatment increased. Therefore the objective of this study was to determine the effects of vaginal cream, mixture of yogurt and honey and comparing it with clotrimazole vaginal cream on symptoms of Vulvovaginal candidiasis in patients. METHODS: In this randomized, triple blind clinical trial of 70 non-pregnant women infected with Candidal vulvovaginitis were placed in two groups of Vaginal cream mixed of yogurt and honey recipients (N=35) and clotrimazole vaginal cream (N=35). Both groups were treated for 7 days. At the beginning of study, Clinical and laboratory signs and symptoms were registered 7 and 14 days after treatment by questionnaire, observation form and secretions culture results. Data by chi-square test, t test, McNemar tests were analyzed by SPSS version 21. Significance level of 0.05 was considered. RESULTS: The result of present study reveals the significant differences in symptom improvement of ' yogurt and honey, than clotrimazole group (P0.05) CONCLUSION: This study indicated that he therapeutic effects of vaginal cream, yogurt and honey is not only similar with clotrimazole vaginal cream but more effective in relieving some symptoms of vaginal candidiasis. Therefore, the use of this product can be suggested as an herbal remedy for candida infection treatment

The inhibitory effect of a Lactobacillus acidophilus derived biosurfactant on Serratia marcescens biofilm formation

Objective(s): Serratia marcescens is one of the nosocomial pathogen. The ability to form biofilm is an important feature in the pathogenesis of S. marcescens. The aim of this study was to determine the anti�adhesive properties of a biosurfactant isolated from Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356, on S. marcescens strains. Materials and Methods: Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356, was selected as a probiotic strain to produce biosurfactant. Anti�adhesive activities was determined by pre�coating and co� incubating methods in 96�well culture plates. Results: The FTIR analysis of derived biosurfactant revealed the composition as protein component. Because of the release of such biosurfactants, L. acidophilus was able to interfere with the adhesion and biofilm formation of the S. marcescens strains. In co� incubation method this biosurfactant in 2.5 mg/ml concentration showed anti�adhesive activity against all tested strains of S. marcescens (P<0.05). Conclusion: Our results show anti�adhesive properties of L. acidophilus biosurfactant will be useful against microorganisms responsible for infections in the urinary, vaginal and gastrointestinal tracts, as well as skin, making it a suitable alternative to conventional antibiotics. © 2015, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved