Foliated order parameter in a fracton phase transition

Finding suitable indicators for characterizing quantum phase transitions plays an important role in understanding different phases of matter. It is especially important for fracton phases where a combination of topology and fractionalization leads to exotic features not seen in other known quantum phases. In this paper, we consider the above problem by studying phase transition in the X-cube model in the presence of a non-linear perturbation. Using an analysis of the ground state fidelity and identifying a discontinuity in the global entanglement, we show there is a first order quantum phase transition from a type I fracton phase with a highly entangled nature to a magnetized phase. Accordingly, we conclude that the global entanglement, as a measure of the total quantum correlations in the ground state, can well capture certain features of fracton phase transitions. Then, we introduce a non-local order parameter in the form of a foliated operator which can characterize the above phase transition. We particularly show that such an order parameter has a geometric nature which captures specific differences of fracton phases with topological phases. Our study is specifically based on a well-known dual mapping to the classical plaquette Ising model where it shows the importance of such dualities in studying different quantum phases of matter.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, Accepted for publication in PR

Association of vitamin D receptor gene variants with polycystic ovary syndrome: A case control study

Background: Vitamin D and insulin play an important role in susceptibility to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and therefore vitamin D receptor (VDR), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and insulin receptor (INSR) gene variants might be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the possible associations between polymorphisms in VDR, PTH, and INSR genes and the risk of PCOS. Materials and Methods: VDR, PTH, and INSR gene variants were genotyped in 35 women with PCOS and 35 controls using Polymerase chain reaction – Restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Furthermore, serum levels of glucose and insulin were measured in all participants. Results: No significant differences were observed for the VDR FokI, VDR Tru9I, VDR TaqI, PTH DraII, INSR NsiI, and INSR PmlI gene polymorphisms between the women with PCOS and controls. However, after adjustment for confounding factors, the VDR BsmI “Bb” genotype and the VDR ApaI "Aa" genotype were significantly under transmitted to the patients (p= 0.016; OR= 0.250; 95% CI= 0.081-0.769, and p= 0.017; OR= 0.260; 95% CI= 0.086-0.788, respectively). Furthermore, in the women with PCOS, insulin levels were lower in the participants with the INSR NsiI "NN" genotype compared with those with the "Nn + nn" genotypes (P= 0.045). Conclusion: The results showed an association between the VDR gene BsmI and ApaI polymorphisms and PCOS risk. These data also indicated that the INSR "NN" genotype was a marker of decreased insulin in women with PCOS. Our findings, however, do not lend support to the hypothesis that PTH gene DraII variant plays a role in susceptibility to PCOS

Medication errors, pharmacological knowledge and interventions amongst employed pharmacy technicians in qom drugstores, Iran: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: Different factors are effective in medication errors, but some dispensing errors may occur by the pharmacy technicians due to the expanded responsibilities of them and lack of standardised training. This study aimed to assess the pharmacy technician awareness in different dimensions including pharmacological knowledge, interventions and medication errors in employed technicians of Qom pharmacies. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in all 101 employed pharmacy technicians in medical pharmacies of Qom, Iran, in 2017. The data collection conducted by a standard researcher-made questionnaire. The questionnaire was including demographic characteristics, pharmacological knowledge, intervention and medication errors. Data were analysed by t-test, analysis of variance and Pearson's correlation coefficient tests in SPSS. Results: The mean score in pharmacological knowledge, interventions and medication errors was 5.72 ± 2.35, 1.05 ± 0.744 and 6.68 ± 2.26, respectively. Moreover, the total score of pharmacological awareness was 13.45 ± 3.96. Only 12% of the pharmacy technicians in Qom educated in medical field, 45% were diploma and lower and 61% of participants reported that they have not passed any educational pharmacological courses. The mean score of pharmacological knowledge (P = 0.010) and errors (P = 0.026) and the total score of pharmacological awareness (P = 0.005) were significantly lower in 23 years' age group and higher in 23-year-old pharmacological technicians. Moreover, week-work is directly associated with medication errors. Gender, job history and educational field are related factors in pharmacological knowledge of pharmacy technicians. Conclusion: The mean score of pharmacological knowledge, intervention and medication errors of pharmacy technicians was moderate. Nevertheless, there was some main challenge in Iranian pharmacy staffs including irrelevant education of pharmacy technicians, low educational level and low experience job in drugstores

Prevalence of toxoplasma gondii and the level of IL8 in patients with Celiac disease

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii infection is usually detected by using immunoglobulin IgG and IgM antibodies in different populations. This parasite is implicated in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease (CD). In the present study the prevalence of Toxoplasmosis and the level of IL8 in patients with Celiac disease were evaluated. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study in 2013, 150 patients with CD diagnosis were selected by using questionnaire and the presence of antibodies specific for Toxoplasma gondii (IgG, IgM) was detected by ELISA. On the other hand the level of IL8 was detected using available commercial kit. Results: patients (n=59, 39.9%) were positive for anti-toxoplasma IgG. On the other hand, only 2 of them were positive for IgM antibodies, which did not show statistical correlation to the disease (1.4%, P = 0.65). The mean level of IL8 was 176.38 (SD=191.79) in 150 CD patients, which did not show a statistical significant correlation between the mean level of IL8 and celiac disease (P=0.001). Conclusion: Like other studies showing that intestinal infection can help to develop celiac disease in susceptible individuals, our results also revealed that Toxoplasma gondii infection can increase the risk of developing celiac disease

Prevalence and determinants of chronic kidney disease in northeast of Iran: Results of the Golestan cohort study.

BackgroundThe burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing globally in particular in fast emerging economies such as Iran. Population-based studies on prevalence of CKD in Iran are scarce. The objective of the current study was to explore the prevalence and determinants of CKD in the setting of Golestan Cohort Study (GCS), the largest prospective cohort in the Middle East.MethodsIn this observational study, 11,409 participants enrolled in the second phase of GCS were included. Sex, age, literacy, residence, anthropometric measurements, smoking, opium use, self-reported history of cardiovascular diseases (heart disease and/or stroke), hypertension, diabetes, and lipid profile were the predictors of interest. The outcomes of interest were eGFR and CKD defined as eGFR< 60 ml/min/1.73m2.ResultsMean (SD) of GFR was 70.0 ± 14.7 ml/min/1.73m2 among all participants, 68.2 ± 14.2 among women, and 72.0 ± 15.0 among men. Prevalence of CKD was 23.7% (26.6% in women, 20.6% in men). The prevalence of CKD stages 3a, 3b, 4, and 5 were 20.0%, 3.3%, 0.4% and 0.1%, respectively. Female sex, older age, urban residence, history of CVD, hypertension or diabetes, larger body mass and surrogates of body fat and opium use were all associated with CKD. Opium had a significant positive association with CKD in adjusted model. All anthropometric measurements had positive linear association with CKD. Being literate had inverse association. Sex had significant interaction with anthropometric indices, with higher odds ratios among men compared with women. A significantly high association was observed between the rate of change in waist circumference and systolic blood pressure with risk of CKD.ConclusionOne in four people in this cohort had low eGFR. Obesity and overweight, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia are major risk factors for CKD. Halting the increase in waist circumference and blood pressure may be as important as reducing the current levels

Comparing adjusted ORs for deciles of anthropometric measurements.

<p>The fifth decile serves as the reference group. Each decile includes approximately 1,100 participants. BMI: Body Mass Index, WHR: Waist to Hip Ratio, WHT: Waist to Height Ratio.</p