Weakly polymatroidal ideals with applications to vertex cover ideals

In this paper we extend the concept of weakly polymatroidal ideals to monomial ideals which are not necessarily generated in one degree, and show that any ideal in this class has linear quotients. As an application we study some vertex cover ideals of weighted hypergraphs

Socioeconomic inequalities of hypercholesterolemia in Kurdistan Province, Iran, in 2005

BACKGROUND: Hypercholesterolemia is one of the main risk factors for many non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Many deaths caused by hypercholesterolemia usually occur in low and middle income countries. The aim of the present study was to determine the socioeconomic inequality in the distribution of hypercholesterolemia in Kurdistan Province, Iran, in 2005. METHODS: The data used in this study were obtained from the results of the Non-Communicable Disease Surveillance Survey (NCDSS) conducted in 2005 in Kurdistan Province. In this study, the socioeconomic status (SES) of participants was determined based on their assets and residential location and using the principal component analysis (PCA) statistical method. The levels of inequality in 5 different socioeconomic groups were determined by calculating the concentration index, comparing odds ratio (OR), and through using logistic regression method. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in the studied subjects was 38.5% [confidence interval (95% CI): 36, 41]. The concentration index of hypercholesterolemia was -0.031 (95% CI: -0.070, 0.009). Moreover, the OR of hypercholesterolemia in the richest group, compared with the poorest, was 0.82 (0.59 to -1.13). CONCLUSION: In this study, the relationship between socioeconomic status and risk of hypercholesterolemia was not statistically significant; however, usually, SES is associated with hypercholesterolemia. In the comparison of different countries, distribution of hypercholesterolemia in different SES levels depends on the level of development, gross national product (GNP) per capita, and level of income in each country. Inequalities in the distribution of risk factors for hypercholesterolemia can be reduced through increasing disadvantaged groups’ access to health care services and planning special programs for inequality reduction.

Analysis and Calibration of Electron-Dispersive Spectroscope and Scanning Electron Microscope Parameters to Improve their Results

The Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Electron-Dispersive Spectroscope (EDS) are two highly effective instruments in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The quality of these instruments is determined by various factors, with high resolution being a crucial one. To determine the practically achievable resolution of the SEM, reference materials such as gold particles on carbon substrate are commonly utilized. On the other hand, high demanding, and usual materials such as brass, aluminum oxide or MEMs are of high importance to be considered in the way of improving material characterization. In this study five different samples were analyzed in four steps to see the effect of astigmatism and aperture misalignment, the mirror effect on the charged uncoated sample in backscattered electron (BSE) and secondary electron (SE) images, compositional and topographical analysis using both qualitative and quantitative methods and finally apply all the steps on a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device. This study illustrates the possibility of controlling the mirror effect by adjusting the input parameters even in the cases that the user needs to have low accelerating voltage for the experiment. Besides, the discussion addresses possible reasons for the absence of some peaks in EDS analysis for some specific elements

Althusserian reading of The Handmaid's Tale

Louis Althusser (1918-1990) builds on the work of Jacques Lacan to understand the way ideology functions in society. He thus moves away from the earlier Marxist understanding of ideology. In the earlier model, ideology was believed to create what was termed "false consciousness", a false understanding of the way the world functioned. Althusser explains that for Marx "Ideology is [...] thought as an imaginary construction whose status is exactly like the theoretical status of the dream among writers before Freud. For those writers, the dream was the purely imaginary, i.e. null, result of the 'day's residues" (1971:108). Althusser, by contrast, approximates ideology to Lacan's understanding of reality, the world we construct around us after our entrance into the symbolic order. For Althusser, as for Lacan, it is impossible to access the real conditions of existence due to our reliance on language. This could be seen throughout the novel by Margaret Atwood who writes The Handmaid's Tale (1985) based on the concept of ideology. This is about how the heroine of the story and other women in the society are manipulated by the ideology of ruling class through a communist society. In such a world nothing is real and everything is just an illusion that is made by ruling class. The subjects trapped or forced to believe such misconceptions and unreality through different techniques that are employed by the rulers. The dominant forces and ideology are so strong that the subject at the end gets a new identity since she is required unconsciously without her knowing. The other aspect shown by this novel is the failure of revolution and communism in this society and persistence of capitalism that it never disappears

The study of ideology in The Handmaids' Tale based on Althusser's view

Ideology has always been the most vital apparatus for each government and dominant groups of society to keep their superior position so that every inferior subject could remain obedient and live like a programmed machine that is required to operate according to some fixed and rigid codes. Sometimes these codes are so apparent and tangible in the society that breaking them would result in sheer oppression such as impressment, exile and even execution. However in modern era the controlling and domination are not applied through force and physical attempts yet it does not mean it ceased to exist. The traditional ways of oppression are not extinct; yet they remain in new forms, tools and weapons which in Althusser's terminology they are called RSA. Nevertheless there is another difference in modern time; it has been attempted to control the minds of people through other less vivid weapons. These weapons could poison the minds of subjects and control and train them in a way that dominant groups want without taking any violent action. This method of controlling mind is ISA in Althusser's view. The handmaid's tale (1988) mostly concerns with the ideology of ruling class and the way the ruling class shows the ideology to subjects by force and discourse shapes the way through which suppressed class perceives the world. The main character of this novel who is a woman is oppressed in different ways and her identity and believes are influenced by the ideology of the society consciously and unconsciously. Since the story takes place in Gilead as one small part of the world, it could be symbol of other societies and the analysis of that society can be extended to other parts of the world so this is a microcosmic study

A Study of Idioms and Enigmas in Xollar Dialect

Abstract: Considering increasing development of Persian Language in the capital as well as immigrating villagers to metropolitans, there is a fear that many of authentic words, idioms and riddles in the ancient cultures will be forgotten and obsolete. Therefore in this paper for the first time it has been tried to collect idioms and riddles in one of original dialects survived from Middle Persian in southwest Iran, subset of dialects in Fars Province or Xollari dialect and additionally, to present their transcription, pronunciation, meaning and equivalent in Persian. Also, before dealing with the subject, a summary description about Xollar dialect has been provided for the eager reader. This study is based on field studies, interview, questionnaire, library compilation as well as analysis an

Influence of Two Preparation Techniques on Transportation of Simulated Type II Root Canals

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes of canal configuration in simulated type II root canals that were instrumented by two different techniques using ProTaper Universal rotary files. Methods and Materials: Sixty simulated type II root canal in resin blocks were made and randomly divided into two groups. Pre and post-instrumentation images of resin blocks were prepared using stereomicroscope from three surfaces of blocks included two longitudinal section (mesiodistally and buccolingually), and one cross sectional surface. In the first group (G1) the straight canal was instrumented to the working length and the other canal was instrumented up to the area of canals junction. In second group (G2) both canals were instrumented to working length. The superimposed pre and post instrumentation images were assessed by the Adobe Photoshop software. The degree of transportation, centering ability, perimeter, surface and aspetic ratio (AR) in cross section and longitudinal section at apex, 3 mm and 5 mm above the apex, were measured. SPSS software, t-test and Mann-Whitney test were used for statistics analysis. Result: In mesiodistal direction, canal transportation was more (P=0.024) only in junction point in G2 which both canals were instrumented to working length. Also, surface changes were more significant (P=0.02) in G2 in cross sectional direction. The other parameter and also apical transportation had not significant difference in two groups. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that both two preparation methods of type II canals can be used by rotary instruments.Keywords: Apical Transportation; Canal Transportation; Nickel Titanium; Root Canal Preparation; Root Canal Shap

The reaggregation of normal granulosa-cumulus cells and mouse oocytes with polycystic ovarian syndrome in vitro: An experimental study

Background: The dialogue between oocytes and their surrounding cells plays a major role in the progress of oocyte meiosis and their developmental potential. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of co-culture of normal granulosacumulus cells (GCCs) with oocytes from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) mice. Materials and Methods: Normal GCCs were collected from 10 virgin adult Naval Medical Research Institute female mice (30-35 gr, 7-8 wk old), and were cultured in an alpha-minimum essential medium supplemented with 5% fetal calf serum for 24-48 hr (1×106 cells/well). Then, germinal-vesicle oocytes from PCOS mice were cultured in the presence of cultured normal GCCs (experimental group) and without GCCs (control group). The maturation rate and quality of the PCOS oocytes were examined by evaluating TFAM and Cx43 gene expression (real-time PCR) and the connection among PCOS oocytes and normal GCCs after 24 hr of culture. Results: The co-culture of normal GCCs and PCOS oocytes in the experimental group led to the formation of a complex called a PCOS oocyte-normal GCCs complex. The maturation rate of these complexes was significantly increased compared to that of the control group (p ≤ 0.001). A significant difference was also found in the expression of Cx43 (p ≤ 0.001) and TFAM (p < 0.05) genes in the experimental group compared with the control group. The connection between PCOS oocytes and normal GCCs was observed in the scanning electron microscope images. Conclusion: Co-culture with normal GCCs improves the capacity of PCOS oocytes to enter meiosis, which may result in the promotion of assisted reproduction techniques. Key words: PCOS, Co-culture, Granulosa-cumulus cells, IVM, Cx43