2,709 research outputs found

    The effect of politics on the formation of urban aesthetics, the case of Iran

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    Urban aesthetics is a complicated issue that needs further evaluation of its physical specifications in a city. This article examines urban aesthetics through the historical political patterns and urban planning and development process. The aim is to reveal the relationship between the formation of urban aesthetics, the urban planning process, and the political impact. Iran as the case of a developing country with a different socio-political context and national system is selected for this aim. Path-dependency analysis has been used as a methodology to provide a framework to understand urban aesthetics followed by different socio-political periods and planning processes. Three political periods have been selected for analysis in which the country gained most of its unprecedented changes in political, and social aspects. Analysis results demonstrated that urban aesthetics is more dependent on the political path dependency than the planning process while still the same planning approaches have been carried out in the country. © 2022 Elsevier Lt

    Clinical course of psoriasis patients that discontinued biologics during the COVID-19 pandemic

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    Background: Since psoriasis is a chronic disease, it is not recommended to discontinue the treatment agents used. However, in real life, the treatment of psoriasis patients may be interrupted for various reasons. During the pandemic period, the treatment of many patients was also interrupted. Objectives: To evaluate relapse and clinical worsening in psoriasis patients whose biological therapy was interrupted during the pandemic and reveal associated factors. Methods: The study included patients aged ≥18 years, who were followed up with moderate and severe chronic psoriasis controlled by the last biological agent [Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) 75 response achieved] but had to discontinue their treatment during the pandemic. The patients' demographic and clinical characteristics, clinical course after the discontinuation of these agents, presence of clinical worsening, and relapse were evaluated. Risk factors were analyzed with the logistic regression analysis. Results: The study included 169 patients, with a mean age of 47.3 ± 14.5 (18–87) years. The mean biologics-free time was 18.2 ± 12.3 (2–56) weeks. Clinical worsening was detected in 41.4% and relapse in 48.5% of the patients. The significant risk factors for clinical worsening and relapse in both univariate and multivariate analyses were alcohol use during the biologics-free period, total time off biologics, and the presence of an additional triggering factor. The use of secukinumab and ustekinumab was found to be a protective factor against clinical worsening in multivariate analyses. Conclusion: As the biologics-free period is prolonged, the likelihood of clinical worsening and relapse increases, therefore, we do not recommend discontinuing biological agents. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC

    The mechanical testing and performance analysis of three-dimensionally produced lingual retainers

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    Background: Introducing three-dimensional (3D) printing has opened new visions in the orthodontic field. This research evaluates three-dimensionally produced orthodontic retainers and their future possible uses. For this purpose, in vitro tests were performed for these groups, including bond strength, failure analysis, discoloration, and biodegradation. Methods: A total of 30 specimens (n = 30), lower incisor human teeth, were randomly divided into three groups for a bond strength failure analysis (for each group n = 10). In the experimental groups, lingual retainers were fabricated using 3D systems (group 1 with 3D dental pen and group 2 with 3D-printed). In the control group (group 3), the retainer system was a combination of a wire and composite, which is being used worldwide. A total of 30 specimens (n = 30) from the 3D dental pen and 3D-printed for discoloration and biodegradation tests were divided into three groups (water, tea, and coffee). Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, ANOVA, and chi-square test. Results: For all parameters tested, significant differences were determined among groups. The 3D pen group had the highest score for bond strength, whereas discoloration differed significantly. Conclusions: According to the limitations of this research, 3D-printed retainers have the potential for clinical use in the near future. © 2023 World Federation of Orthodontist

    Physiological and gene expression responses of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis to low pH and low dissolved oxygen

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    The prevalence and frequency of hypoxia events have increased worldwide over the past decade as a consequence of global climate change and coastal biological oxygen depletions. On the other hand, anthropogenic emissions of CO2 and consequent accumulation in the sea surface result in a perturbation of the seawater carbonate system, including a decrease in pH, known as ocean acidification. While the effect of decreases in pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration is better understood, their combined effects are still poorly resolved. Here, we exposed adult mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) to two pHs (8.27 and 7.63) and DO concentrations (7.65 and 2.75 mg L−1) over 17 days in a full-factorial design. These levels correspond to extremes of the present natural variability and are relevant in the context of ocean acidification and hypoxia. No mortality was observed during the experiment. However, sublethal effects were observed for clearance and oxygen consumption rates, as well as total haemocytes count and haemocytes viability and gene expression in mussels exposed to the combination of low pH and low DO. Respiration and excretion rates were not significantly impacted by low pH and DO, alone or in combination. Overall, low pH alone led to a decrease in all tested physiological parameters while low DO alone led to a decline in clearance rate, haemocyte parameters and an increase in carbohydrate content. Both parameters led to up- or down-regulation of most of the selected genes. Not surprisingly, the combined effect of low pH and low DO could not be predicted by a simple arithmetic additive response at the effect level, highlighting more complex and non-linear effects. © 2023 Elsevier Lt

    Weber's gland immune/histopathology in pediatric recurrent tonsillitis and obstructive tonsillar hypertrophy cases

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    OBJECTIVE: Recurrent tonsillitis and obstructive tonsillar hypertrophy are very common in childhood and constitute the two major causes of tonsillectomy in this age group. There is no study in the literature on the immune/histopathological changes in the recurrent and obstructive tonsillar hypertrophy of Weber's glands. In this study, we aimed to histopathologically and immunohistochemically examine the Weber's glands of pediatric patients with recurrent. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 63 patients, with 31 patients aged 6-9 who had surgery for recurrent tonsillitis, and 32 patients aged 6-11 years who had surgery for obstructive tonsillar hypertrophy, were included in the study. The removed Weber's glands were included in the obstructive tonsillar hypertrophy or recurrent tonsillitis group according to the patient's clinical diagnosis. All specimens were coded with a numbering method, where only the surgeon knew which patient was in which group. All specimens were evaluated in the same histology center and by the same histologist, unaware of the clinical diagnosis of the patients (blind). RESULTS: The comparison of Weber's gland immunohistochemical parameter scores of the groups revealed that the scores of the RT group were significantly higher for all three parameters (VEGF: t=6.777; p<0.001), (EGFR: t=4.386; p<0.001), (IL-6: t=5.072; p<0.001). The comparison of the groups in terms of inflammation, basement membrane thickening, myoepithelial cell and glycoprotein accumulation revealed significantly higher Weber's gland evaluation scores in the RT group for all four parameters. (inflammation: t=7.794; p<0.001), (basement membrane thickening: t=6.582; p<0.001), [myoepithelial cell: t=3.693; p<0.001), (glycoprotein accumulation: t=5.287; p<0.001)]. CONCLUSIONS: Histopathological and immunohistochemical examination of Weber's gland in pediatric recurrent tonsillitis and obstructive tonsillar hypertrophy cases revealed inflammatory changes in both disease groups. As expected, inflammatory manifestations were more common in the recurrent tonsillitis group. Besides, inflammatory changes detected in Weber's glands of obstructive tonsillar hypertrophy cases without a history of tonsillitis may contribute to the Weber's gland hypothesis, which attempts to explain the etiology of peritonsillar abscess

    Efficacy of keratometric values obtained from Sirius topographer® in nidek axial length-scan® for intraocular lens calculation after penetrating keratoplasty

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    Background: To evaluate the accuracy of keratometric values obtained from Scheimpflug (Sirius) topography using Nidek AL-Scan optical biometry (OB) for intraocular lens (IOL) power calculating after penetrating keratoplasty (PK). Methods: Thirty eyes of 26 patients were included in this study. The demographic information, complete ophthalmic examination, IOL calculation technique, and its effect on final refractive results were evaluated. Results: The mean age of the patients was 52.76 ± 16.20 years. The mean K readings using Nidek AL-Scan OB, mean simulated K (SimK) (3mm), and mean pupillary power (MPP) (4.5mm) K readings using Sirius were 41.92 ± 5.05 D, 42.99 ± 5.78 D, and 43.30±6.23 D (p= 0.515). Conclusions: Both devices correctly calculated IOL power after PK; however, Sirius SimK (3mm) gave the lowest mean absolute error (MAE) results and can be safely used for IOL power calculation

    Emotional labour behavior of nursing students: A qualitative study

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    Aim: This study aimed to determine the opinions of nursing students on emotional labor behavior. Background: It is of importance to teach emotional labor behavior to nursing students, the nurses of the future. Design: The research has a phenomenological qualitative design. Method: Participants consisted of 20 nursing students who were in face-to-face communication with patients in clinical practice. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) was used to report this research. Results: Considering the theoretical structure of the subject, emotional labor behavior was examined under three main themes: surface acting, deep acting, and genuine acting. Conclusions: Emotional labor behavior affects students’ approach to patients and performance in clinical practice. Education has a supportive effect on the management of emotions and the guidance of the clinical environment and clinical services. © 2022 Elsevier Lt

    Children in Marketing: A Review, Synthesis and Research Agenda

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    Children have received much research attention in many different academic disciplines within social sciences, including marketing. The main objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the marketing literature to investigate the historical evolution of the studies on “children” and shed light on possible gaps which could serve as new research areas for future studies. To the authors' best knowledge, there have been a few attempts on the topic, mostly with a narrow focus on only some aspects of this important concept. The significance of this current research is that it reviews 423 articles from marketing-related journals and evaluates the development of thought on “children” from every marketing-based perspective that once has been a subject of scholarly attention. In this study, we examined leading articles, authors and institutions, methodologies used, countries data collected from, and the age of the sample. In addition, an auto-correlation map is created to identify all the research domains in marketing literature related to children. Our correlation matrix indicates that major subareas in children and marketing literature are children's consumer socialization and role in family decision-making, materialism, vulnerability and ethics, food, brands, and advertising. Findings revealed that while marketing scholars have shown great attention to children during the last two decades and a wide array of articles have been frequently published on the eight sub-areas mentioned, marketing literature is still underdeveloped on three aspects: sustainability, technology and digitalization, and cross-cultural differences. © 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

    Prognostic importance of microvessel density, VEGF expression and perineural invasion in laryngeal cancer treated with adjuvant radiotherapy

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    Background and Aims: We aimed to investigate the prognostic importance of the microvessel density (MVD) value, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, and the presence of perineural invasion (PNI) in laryngeal cancer (LSCC) patients. Methods: Pathological specimens of 62 LSCC patients were assessed for the evaluation of the MVD value, the VEGF expression level, and the presence of PNI of the tumors. The tumor characteristics and prognostic effects of these parameters on local control (LC) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive analyses were done using frequencies for the demographic variables. The survival estimates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier survival curves. The effects of the parameters on LC and OS were investigated by using the log-rank test comparing the survival rates. Cox regression analysis was used for multivariable analysis. Results: The 5-year LC and OS rates of the 62 LSCC patients were 64.5 and 53.9%, respectively. Twenty-two patients (35.5%) had PNI and the frequency of PNI was higher in the patients with a high-grade disease (P = 0.01). The MVD value was higher in the tumors of older patients (P = 0.035) and was correlated with the VEGF expression (P = 0.009). A higher tumor grade was related to a higher VEGF expression (P = 0.01) and the increase in the VEGF expression was associated with a significant decrease in the OS (P = 0.03). Conclusion: The VEGF expression, the MVD value, and the presence of PNI had no prognostic significance on the LC in the LSCC patients while only the VEGF expression was associated with the OS

    Effects of different polyphenol-rich herbal teas on reducing predicted glycemic index

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    T he purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different polyphenol-rich herbal teas on reducing the in vitro starch digestibility of white bread and evaluation of predicted glycemic indexes. Generally, except for the goji berry treatment, all herbal teas reduced the starch digestibility and predicted glycemic index of white bread. Compared to untreated white bread, the rapidly digestible starch levels were decreased by 10% and 12% in the turmeric tea treatment. In addition, hydrolysis indexes were decreased by 12% and 10% in the black tea treatment compared to untreated white bread. The turmeric treatment on white bread reduced the predicted glycemic index more than other teas. It is thought that the curcumin in turmeric has more inhibitory effects on α-amylase activity than other teas. We also demonstrated that dietary polyphenols such as anthocyanins and catechins found in herbal teas might reduce starch digestion by inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase thereby lowering the glycemic index of foods.</p
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