In this protocol, Ag supported on the hydroxyapatite-core–shell magnetic γ-Fe2O3nanoparticles（γFe2O3@HAp-Ag NPs） as a novel, efficient, and magnetically recyclable catalyst is synthesized, and ...characterized by transmission electron microscopy（TEM）, scanning electron microscopy（SEM）, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy（FT-IR）, X-ray diffraction（XRD）, and vibrating sample magnetometry（VSM）. The use of the catalyst is described in the synthesis of coumarin derivatives by the Pechmann condensation of various phenols with β-ketoesters under solvent- and halogen-free conditions at 80℃.This novel and inexpensive method offers advantages, such as recyclability simple experimental protocol, short reaction time, minimal work-up procedure, and excellent yields of products, together with desirable, eco-friendly, green aspects by avoiding toxic elements and solvents, and ease of recovery from the reaction mixture using an external magnet.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPUK, ZRSKP
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a powerful tool for nucleic acid amplification and quantification. However, long thermocycling time is a major limitation of the commercial PCR devices in the ...point-of-care (POC). Herein, we have developed a rapid droplet-based photonic PCR (dpPCR) system, including a gold (Au) nanofilm-based microfluidic chip and a plasmonic photothermal cycler. The chip is fabricated by adding mineral oil to uncured polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to suppress droplet evaporation in PDMS microfluidic chips during PCR thermocycling. A PDMS to gold bonding technique using a double-sided adhesive tape is applied to enhance the bonding strength between the oil-added PDMS and the gold nanofilm. Moreover, the gold nanofilm excited by two light-emitting diodes (LEDs) from the top and bottom sides of the chip provides fast heating of the PCR sample to 230 °C within 100 s. Such a design enables 30 thermal cycles from 60 to 95 °C within 13 min with the average heating and cooling rates of 7.37 ± 0.27 °C/s and 1.91 ± 0.03 °C/s, respectively. The experimental results demonstrate successful PCR amplification of the alcohol oxidase (AOX) gene using the rapid plasmonic photothermal cycler and exhibit the great performance of the microfluidic chip for droplet-based PCR.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
As a result of the outbreak and diffusion of SARS-CoV-2, there has been a directive to advance medical working conditions. In dentistry, airborne particles are produced through aerosolization ...facilitated by dental instruments. To develop methods for reducing the risks of infection in a confined environment, understanding the nature and dynamics of these droplets is imperative and timely. This study provides the first evidence of aerosol droplet formation from an ultrasonic scalar under simulated oral conditions. State-of-the-art optical flow tracking velocimetry and shadowgraphy measurements are employed to quantitatively measure the flow velocity, trajectories and size distribution of droplets produced during a dental scaling process. The droplet sizes are found to vary from 5 µm to 300 µm; these correspond to droplet nuclei that could carry viruses. The droplet velocities also vary between 1.3 m s
and 2.6 m s
. These observations confirm the critical role of aerosols in the transmission of disease during dental procedures, and provide invaluable knowledge for developing protocols and procedures to ensure the safety of both dentists and patients.
This study investigated the potentials of face –to- face and computer mediated conversation (CMC) as two speaking modalities on students’ engagement. To this end, 30 Iranian male intermediate EFL ...learners were selected on the basis of their performance on OPT (Oxford Placement Test) and assigned into the research groups. The progression of face- to- face and CMC groups from limited to elaborate engagement at verbal, paralinguistic and functional levels was assessed using transcription analysis in face-to-face group and chat log analysis in CMC group. The limited and elaborate student engagement indicators in two modalities were identified via Maxqda software. The results of Maxqda analysis indicated that limited engagement was associated with appeal for help, silence, pauses and hesitations, focus on syntax, involvement with procedural talk and L1 use. Respectively, elaborate engagement was associated with avoiding L1 use, focus on discourse, involvement with actual talk and strategic discourse management rather than pause and silence. Chi-square analysis on frequency of indicators of limited and elaborate engagements on verbal, paralinguistic and functional levels indicated that limited and elaborate engagements occurred with different proportions in face-to-face and CMC conversations. Teaching practitioners would benefit the findings of the study since the findings illustrate how students’ engagement in learning evolves and how speaking modalities may impact the pattern of students’ engagement over time. The finding also suggest one way for improving student engagement without over-intervening of teachers is using modalities such as forums where the teacher presence is limited and students have to manage the discourse themselves which in turn increases student engagement.
Abstract
Background
Coronavirus currently cause a lot of pressure on the health system. Accordingly, many changes occurred in the way of providing health care, including pregnancy and childbirth ...care. To our knowledge, no studies on experiences of maternity care Providers during the COVID-19 Pandemic have been published in Iran. We aimed to discover their experiences on pregnancy and childbirth care during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
This study was a qualitative research performed with a descriptive phenomenological approach. The used sampling method was purposive sampling by taking the maximum variation possible into account, which continued until data saturation. Accordingly, in-depth and semi-structured interviews were conducted by including 12 participants, as 4 gynecologists, 6 midwives working in the hospitals and private offices, and 2 midwives working in the health centers.
Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven stage method with MAXQDA10 software.
Results
Data analysis led to the extraction of 3 themes, 9 categories, and 25 subcategories. The themes were as follows: “Fear of Disease”, “Burnout”, and “Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic”, respectively.
Conclusions
Maternal health care providers experience emotional and psychological stress and work challenges during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, comprehensive support should be provided for the protection of their physical and mental health statuses. By working as a team, utilizing the capacity of telemedicine to care and follow up mothers, and providing maternity care at home, some emerged challenges to maternal care services can be overcome.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
In the search for natural alternatives to antibiotic feed additives, we compared the efficacy of two doses of
extract
-Low at 40 and
-High at 80 mg g
dry matter (DM) with monensin (monensin) and a ...negative control in the modulation of rumen fermentation, methane production and microbial abundance
. Microbes were investigated using qPCR and 16S rRNA targeted sequencing. Data showed that the addition of
increased production of total short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in comparison to both monensin and control (
= 0.04). The addition of
increased acetate production, and increased propionate at the higher dosage (
< 0.001). Supplementation of
lowered methane production (
< 0.001) compared to control but with no effect compared to monensin. Ammonia concentration decreased by 52% (
< 0.001) with
-High supplementation (4.14 mmol L
) compared to control, which was greater than that of monensin (36%). The diversity of rumen bacteria was reduced (
< 0.001) for monensin and
for both the number of observed OTUs and the Chao1 index. Quantitative analysis of Protozoa showed a decrease in the monensin treatment (
= 0.05) compared to control. Archaea copy numbers decreased equally in both
-High and monensin treatments compared to the control group. Supplementation with
increased relative abundances of
(
< 0.001) and
(
= 0.001) in comparison to both the control and monensin treatments. Significant negative correlations were observed between the abundances of
, and
genera and methane (
> -0.71;
≤ 0.001). The abundance of
genera and total SCFA (
= 0.86), acetate (
= 0.75), and valerate (
= -0.51;
< 0.001) correlated positively. These results suggest that
supplementation at 80 mg g
DM inclusion, similar to monensin, supports rumen fermentation, lowers methane and ammonia production. However,
supported rumen fermentation toward higher total SCFA and propionate production, while unlike monensin still supported a diverse rumen microbiome and an increase in cellulolytic bacteria such as
.
A genome-scale metabolic network reconstruction of Salinibacter ruber DSM13855 is presented here. To our knowledge, this is the first metabolic model of an organism in the phylum Rhodothermaeota. ...This model, which will be called iMB631, was reconstructed based on genomic and biochemical data available on the strain Salinibacter ruber DSM13855. This network consists of 1459 reactions, 1363 metabolites and 631 genes. Model evaluation was performed based on existing biochemical data in the literature and also by performing laboratory experiments. For growth on different carbon sources, we show that iMB631 is able to correctly predict the growth in 91% of cases where growth has been observed experimentally and 83% of conditions in which S. ruber did not grow. The F-score was 93%, demonstrating a generally acceptable performance of the model. Based on the predicted flux distributions, we found that under certain autotrophic condition, a reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle (rTCA) has fluxes in all necessary reactions to support autotrophic growth. To include special metabolites of the bacterium, salinixanthin biosynthesis pathway was modeled based on the pathway proposed recently. For years, main glucose consumption pathway has been under debates in S. ruber. Using flux balance analysis, iMB631 predicts pentose phosphate pathway, rather than glycolysis, as the active glucose consumption method in the S. ruber.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
In recent years, rapid population growth and unsafe abortions have emerged as controversial health issues in some countries. Hence, safe and effective contraceptive methods or agents have attracted a ...great deal of attention and the corresponding market has been widely expanded.
In this study, we present a review profiting from Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM) to introduce expedient plants as efficient contraceptive agents.
Medicinal plants suggested as contraceptive agents were obtained from ITM text books and they were also investigated using search engines to confirm their in vitro and in vivo efficacy.
According to credible Iranian medical literature a wide spectrum of plants possesses contraceptive activity and among them, Ruta graveolens, Ricinus communis, Piper nigrum, and Physalis alkekengi were found to be more efficient.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), particularly herbal remedies have received a lot of attention because of their truly healing properties. Focusing on ITM knowledge, there are various comments based on medicinal plants to reduce unsafe abortions leading to better public health in the society.
Oligochaetes are the most abundant benthic taxa in aquatic ecosystems that play an important role in food webs. The present study aims to assess the diversity and origin of Eiseniella tetraedra as a ...non-native species in the Lar National Park of Iran and also its response to current and future climate change. We obtained the specimen from rivers and sequenced the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I (COI) and combined them with 117 sequences from the Jajroud and Karaj rivers in Iran and native regions from GenBank (NCBI). We also ran Species Distribution Modelings (SDMs) using an ensemble model approach that was estimated according to two shared socio-economic pathways (SSPs): 126 and 585 of the MRI-ESM2 based on CMIP6. According to the results, all the samples examined in the current study originated from Spanish rivers, and no unique haplotype was found in the Lar National Park. Moreover, the results also show high haplotype diversity that can positively affect the success of this non-native species in different freshwater. Also, the results of SDMs depict that climate change would remarkably affect the distribution of E. tetraedra and it verifies the invasion power of E. tetraedra in Iran's freshwater ecosystems over time.
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