There has been an increase in interest in the application of ω-3 PUFAs, especially EPA and DHA, in the development of various food products owing to their myriad health benefits. However, most fish ...oils do not contain more than 30% combined levels of EPA and DHA. In this study, through the urea complexation procedure, the production of EPA and DHA concentrate in their free fatty acids (FFAs) form was achieved from an enzymatic oil extracted from common kilka (Clupeonella cultriventris caspia). To gain the maximum value of EPA and DHA, the response surface methodology (RSM), which is an effective tool to categorize the level of independent variables onto the responses of an experimental process, was also used. Different variables including the urea–fatty acids (FAs) ratio (in the range of 2–6, w/w), the temperature of crystallization (in the range of −24–8 °C), and the time of crystallization (in the range of 8–40 h) were investigated by response surface methodology (RSM) for maximizing the EPA and DHA contents. Following the model validation, the levels of the variables at which the maximum desirability function (0.907 score) was obtained for response variables were 5:1 (urea–FAs ratio), −9 °C (the temperature of crystallization), and 24 h (the time of crystallization). Under these optimal conditions, increases of 2.2 and 4.4 times in the EPA and DHA concentrations were observed, respectively, and an increase in the concentrations of EPA and DHA from 5.39 and 13.32% in the crude oil to 12.07 and 58.36% in the ω-3 PUFA concentrates were observed, respectively. These findings indicate that the urea complexation process is efficient at optimizated conditions.
Embodiment of infinity in mathematics Khatin-Zadeh, Omid; Farsani, Danyal; Eskandari, Zahra
Frontiers in psychology,
01/2024, Letnik:
14
Journal Article
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In this article, we discuss the embodiment of infinity as one of fundamental concepts in mathematics. In contrast to the embodiment of many other mathematical concepts, the embodiment of infinity is ...an endless dynamic process. In embodying +∞, an object moves rightward toward a previously-set limit and passes it. Then, a new limit is set on the right side of the moving object. The moving object continues its movement and passes it as well. The moving object can pass any limit. In other words, there is no impassable limit for it. In embodying -∞, a similar process happens but the movement is leftward. Embodiment of infinitely small quantities has a basic similarity to the embodiment of infinitely large quantities, although it is different in some respects. We call the embodiment of infinity as
. It is iterative because the process of setting a new limit and passing it is repeated endlessly. Finally, it is suggested that in the process of embodying infinitely large and infinitely small quantities, the visual system and the motor system play important roles, as this process involves spatial concepts and movement.
Traditional systemic chemotherapy involves the wide distribution of drug molecules in the body, causing toxic side effects in the healthy tissues and limiting the therapeutic dose required at the ...site of drug action. In order to decrease side effects and increase the drug efficacy, recent research on chemotherapy focuses on drug targeting. Targeted therapy can be achieved by several mechanisms including; 1) using an antibody as a drug that is specific to a disease biomarker, 2) using an antibody (or peptide) as a targeting agent conjugated to the drug molecule, 3) delivering the drug molecules to the target tissue in a nano-carrier with or without the targeting agent attached on its surface. The third approach involves the nanomedicines that can be targeted to diseased tissues by both passive (extravasating at diseased sites due to leaky vasculature) and active (specific interaction of the targeting agent with disease biomarker) targeting mechanisms. In this review we will cover the passively targeted nanomedicines prepared using nano drug carriers. Ideally the carrier particle should be in the right size (1-100nm), stable enough to prevent drug leakage during circulation, and safe not to cause any damage to healthy tissues. Competition for all these properties generated many different types of materials to be used as nanodrug delivery systems. After a brief review of most commonly used drug carriers, we discuss the clinical use of the targeted nanomedicines with regard to their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics properties, and how these properties vary from conventional formulations providing free drugs in the circulation after administration.
This article discusses perspective and frame of reference in the metaphorical description of mathematical concepts in terms of motions, gestures, and embodied actions. When a mathematical concept is ...described metaphorically in terms of gestures, embodied actions, or fictive motions, the motor system comes into play to ground and understand that concept. Every motion, gesture, or embodied action involves a perspective and a frame of reference. The flexibility in taking perspective and frame of reference allows people to embody a mathematical concept or idea in various ways. Based on the findings of past studies, it is suggested that the graphical representation of a mathematical concept may activate those areas of the motor system that are involved in the production of that graphical representation. This is supported by studies showing that when observers look at a painting or handwritten letters, they simulate the painter’s or writer’s hand movements during painting or writing. Likewise, the motor system can contribute to the grounding of abstract mathematical concepts, such as functions, numbers, and arithmetic operations.
Background: Epidemics are threats to communities and their health. The preparedness of makeshift hospitals in epidemics in management, planning, implementation, and structure to provide appropriate ...and timely services is essential. Studies show that the incidence command system and the operational fact sheet based on task descriptions and instructions in makeshift hospitals are not considered. This study is designed to develop an appropriate organizational structure for makeshift hospitals. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study in two stages, including review and expert panel studies, to develop a national fact sheet guide and the structure of makeshift hospitals. Results: Based on the nature of disasters, makeshift hospitals should have specific structures. In the structure designed for a makeshift hospital, according to the center’s services and time of activation, it is necessary to have a manager, management, and executive staff. A medical specialist, such as an infectious or pulmonary specialist, is essential, depending on the situation. Considering the limited resources in developing countries and the importance of managing resources (financial, human, and equipment) and improving the quality of health services, it will be helpful to formulate a management structure and implement operational worksheets in the least possible time. Conclusion: The use of command and management structure will improve decision-making in critical situations, especially in cases of epidemics, the need for quarantine, and the provision of services to injured patients.
Background and Aim: Radiotherapy is a major modality for cancer treatment. One of the most important complications of breast radiotherapy is esophagitis. Esophagitis can reduce patient’s quality of ...life. Because of increasing role of radiotherapy in cancer treatment and importance of attention to quality of life in cancer patients, evaluation of radiotherapy complications is essential. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive analytic study and included 34 breast cancer patients who had referred to the radiotherapy center of Tohid Hospital in Sanandaj and received radiation therapy. Based on a standard questionnaire of esophagus complications, patients were assessed for the symptoms of esophagitis for six consecutive weeks. In addition to demographic characteristics and assigning a code to every patient and weekly follow ups for searching esophagitis symptoms, amount of received radiation dose and other dosimetric indecies were calculated and the results were analyzed. Results: According to the results, mean prescription dose was 50 Gy and the average of mean dose and maximum dose received by esophagus were 2.60 and 29.78 Gy respectively. The most and least rates of complications were found in the third and first weeks respectively. Conclusion: In the patients who had received breast radiation therapy in the radiotherapy center of Tohid Hospital in Sanandaj in 2020, incidence of esophagitis was significantly correlated with the mean dose of radiation.
Retardation of quality loss of seafood has been a new concept in recent years. This study's main objective was to evaluate the microbial, chemical, and sensory attributes of shrimp coated with ...alginate sodium nanoparticles containing Zataria multiflora and Cuminum cyminum essential oils (EOs) during refrigerated storage. At the end of storage time (15 days storage at 4°C), the pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) amounts in shrimps coated with the alginate nanoparticles were 7.62, 1.14 mg MDA/kg, and 117 mg/100 g which were significantly (p < .05) lower than the control groups. The count of all bacteria groups was also lower in this treatment, which was 2–2.74 Log CFU/mL on day 15 of cold storage. This combined treatment also obtained the highest sensory scores (around 7) and the lowest melanosis score (2.67) due to the effective delaying microbial and oxidation activities. Therefore, this edible coating could substantially retard microbial and chemical changes and improve the organoleptic properties of shrimp under refrigerated storage.
Edible coatings have many advantages compared with synthetic packaging. Adding natural substances such as EOs to edible coatings increase the preservation of shrimp. Adding EO in the form of nanoparticles reduces the adverse effects of sensory properties.
Pandemics caused a change in the health service delivery system. In disasters with massive injuries or epidemic, the capacity to admit the injured and infected patients to provide health services ...faces the challenges. Covid-19 virus is a respiratory disease that from its emergence until January 18, 2023, the Covid-19 virus has infected more than 672 million people worldwide. In most countries, makeshift hospital has been set up as intermediate medical centers to keep people who are likely to be carriers of the disease to control communicable diseases. Most makeshift hospitals already have alternative uses and, have changed into temporary or intermediate care centers. Based on the search of research team, any standard tools were found to assess the makeshift hospitals safety. All the safety assessment tools were related to the hospital, but since makeshift hospitals are mostly non-hospital structures, the research team has designed and validate a makeshift hospital safety assessment tool for the first time in this study.
The present study is a mixed method that was conducted in 3 phases including; a document review, explaining the components affecting non-structural and functional safety of the makeshift hospital, designing makeshift hospital safety assessment tools and analyzing the results and validating it in 2022. Content validity and reliability were measured by CVR and CVI, ICC and Cronbach's alpha. In the fourth phase, with the participation of 15 specialists, managers, experts, qualitative and quantitative validity of content was done. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 21 software.
The final tool contains 186 items and a 5-point Likert designed for very low safety (1), low safety (2), moderate safety (3), good safety (4), and very good safety (5). The scores of each makeshift hospital were calculated based on the items and the degree of safety. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for tool was 0.98. Retesting the questionnaire after two weeks confirmed the stability of tool (ICC = 0.98). The validity and reliability of this tool were confirmed with 186 items in 2 factors and 26 subcategories including risk of disaster, non-structural safety, safety of windows and shutters, hospital access, information and communication management, patient safety and hygiene and etc.
All centers providing health services, whether temporarily or permanently, must have safety to continue their activities in disaster and maintain the safety and health of staff and inpatients. The makeshift hospital safety tool can be a suitable tool for assessing the risk and eliminating their vulnerabilities, and it can also provide important indicators for the design and set up of the makeshift hospital to policymakers and executives in the field of health.
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