bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the adaptability of old community for renovation based on health sustainability
Authors: Lu Honglin , Zhang Xun
Published: March 2023

Due to the lack of feedback analysis tools, it is impossible to assess the adaptability of a renovated community for different users. Therefore, this paper discusses the adaptability evaluation system for renovated communities from the perspective of healthy sustainability. The correlation between the adaptability of older communities and both relevant subjects and objective environments was analysed. Two significant findings were obtained. First, an innovative adaptability evaluation system was developed using rough set theory, structural equation modelling and importance–performance analysis. This system assessed different attributes of the capital system (social, economic and environmental) and different indicators in the area of health sustainability. Second, the system usability was verified through the study. In this way, the correlation between space health, environmental health, service health, health performance optimisation and health adaptability after community renovation was obtained. The results also showed that spatial changes significantly affect the adaptability and health performance (e.g. elderly-oriented performance, juvenile fitness and energy utilisation performance) of communities. These performances need to be optimised further in community renovation. This study provides a simple and applicable tool for evaluating the effectiveness of community renovation, thus ensuring more sustainable renovation practices.
Valorizing waste PET bottles into Li-ion battery anodes using ionothermal carbonization
Authors: Onwucha Chizoom N , Ehi-Eromosele Cyril O , Ajayi Samuel O , Siyanbola Tolutope O , Ajanaku Kolawole O
Published: March 2023

Waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) bottles (WPBs) are fast becoming an environmental nuisance, and their valorization to carbon anodes could be a sustainable method to manage this waste and also develop cheap and high-performance carbon materials for lithium (Li)-ion batteries (LIBs). Carbonaceous materials derived from WPBs were prepared using an ionothermal carbonization (ITC) method in a choline chloride–urea deep eutectic solvent system. The ITC-derived materials were subsequently annealed in air to obtain carbonaceous materials. The ITC-derived carbon displayed ultra-high nitrogen doping but less carbonization and graphitic ordering compared with the equivalent carbon material obtained using hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). Therefore, higher-temperature annealing/pyrolysis was recommended for the ITC-derived carbon. The HTC-derived carbon was investigated as an anode material for an LIB with promising electrochemical performance. The LIB displayed a stable reversible capacity of about 130 mAh/g at a current density of 0.1 A/g after 20 cycles and an increasing coulombic efficiency that reached 98% after the 50th cycle. This work shows that a facile and sustainable synthesis method can be used to produce PET-derived activated carbon with potential applications in energy-storage systems such as LIBs.
Nature-Based Solutions in integrated drainage and climate change mitigation projects in the city of São Paulo (Brazil)
Authors: Oliveira Milena de , Gallardo Amarilis Lucia Casteli Figueiredo , Ribeiro Andreza Portella , Garcia Joaquin Ignacio Bonnecarrère
Published: March 2023

The results of the floods in the city of São Paulo cause serious problems to society that tend to be aggravated by the effects of climate change. Thus, the design of urban drainage works plays a central role in mitigating these problems. Gray infrastructure is the traditional drainage mechanism usually employed. Nature-Based Solutions are alternatives to traditional solutions that value green and blue infrastructure in cities. This research aims to discuss the synergy between the proposition of Nature-Based Solutions as planning actions to face floods and actions to face climate change adopted by the city of São Paulo. In order to do so, a documentary analysis of the Drainage Guidelines and the Climate Action Plan, technical documents that address the planning of urban drainage in São Paulo, was carried out. It was found that the insertion of NbS associated with the traditional projects of the Drainage Guidelines can contribute to achieving the goals proposed by Planclima-SP, as well as bringing multifunctional benefits, generating resilience and sustainability with regard to urban water management.
Kinetic Studies, Antioxidant Activities, Enzyme Inhibition Properties and Molecular Docking of 1,3-Dihydro-1,3-Dioxoisoindole Derivatives
Authors: Yakan Hasan , Ozturk Seyhan , Tolgay Elvan Uyar , Yenigun Semiha , Marah Sarmad , Doruk Tugrul , Ozen Tevfik , Kutuk Halil
Published: March 2023

The acid catalyzed hydrolysis of the N-(p-substitutedphenyl) phthalimides in three different acids was investigated at 50.0 ± 0.1 °C. Two different antioxidant activity tests as DPPH• and ABTS•+ scavenging activities, and three various enzyme inhibition activity tests as urease, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition activities, were applied. Compound 3c (2.03 μg/mL ) has higher antioxidant activity than other compounds and standards according to DPPH test. In AChE assay, compounds 3a and 3b (13.13 and 9.59 μg/mL) has higher enzyme inhibition activity than the standard Galantamine (14.37 μg/mL). In BChE and urease tests, all compounds (6.84-13.60 and 10.49-17.73 μg/mL) have higher enzyme inhibition activity than the standard Galantamine (49.40 μg/mL) and thiourea (26.19 μg/mL), respectively. The molecule interaction for each of the three compounds with the active sites of AChE, BChE, and urease enzymes was examined via molecular docking simulations.
Oxidative Brain Injury Induced by Amiodarone in Rats: Protective Effect of S‐Methyl Methionine Sulfonium Chloride
Authors: Turkyilmaz Ismet Burcu
Published: March 2023

Amiodarone (AMD) is a powerful antiarrhythmic drug preferred for treatments of tachycardias. Brain can be affected negatively when some drugs are used, including antiarrhythmics. S-methyl methionine sulfonium chloride (MMSC) is a well-known sulfur containing substance and a novel powerful antioxidant. It was intended to investigate the protective effects of MMSC on amiodarone induced brain damage. Rats were divided to four groups as follows, control (given corn oil), MMSC (50 mg/kg per day), AMD (100 mg/kg per day), AMD (100 mg/kg per day) + MMSC (50 mg/kg per day). The brain glutathione and total antioxidant levels, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, paraoxonase, and Na+/K+-ATPase activities were decreased, lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl, total oxidant status, oxidative stress index and reactive oxygen species levels, myeloperoxidase, acetylcholine esterase and lactate dehydrogenase activities were increased after AMD treatment. Administration of MMSC reversed these results. We can conclude that MMSC ameliorated AMD induced brain injury probably due to its antioxidant and cell protective effect.
Breast cancer metastasis to endometrium: Case report and up-date of literature
Authors: Giancarlo Garuti , Paola Francesca Sagrada , Maurizio Mirra , Emilia Marrazzo , Serena Migliaccio , Irene Bonfanti , Marco Soligo
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Breast cancer is the leading neoplasia metastasizing to genital organs. Uterine metastases are seldom reported and those limited to endometrium account for 3.8% of patients with uterine spread. We reported on a woman with breast cancer metastasizing to endometrium and up-date of literature. Presentation of case: In July 2022, a 59 years-old woman with breast cancer was referred to Gynecological consultation due to Positron Emission Tomography showing an enhanced signal to the endometrium. Throughout the four previous years, she underwent bilateral surgery due to metachronous lobular cancers and adjuvant therapies consisting of Letrozole, Exemestane, chemotherapy, and Tamoxifen. In May 2022, bony metastases were found and she shifted to Abemaciclib/Fulvestrant therapy. No gynecological complaints were recorded, and physical examination was uneventful while Transvaginal Ultrasound demonstrated an enhanced endometrial thickness as a unique abnormality. Hysteroscopy showed mucosal thickenings attributed to Tamoxifen-related cysts formation. The biopsy pathology reported stromal infiltration of neoplastic cells staining for Cytokeratins and GATA-3. Negative staining was reported for PAX-8 and CD-10. On these findings, a breast cancer metastasis was established. Four months later the patients died from metastatic brain progression. Discussion: Endometrial metastasis from breast cancer is anecdotal. The case described supports that uterine spread is a late event, often concurrent with extragenital metastases and mostly associated with lobular histology. A hysteroscopic view can be misleading and a careful pathological study is needed for a differential diagnosis against endometrial primitiveness. Conclusion: Endometrial abnormalities in breast cancer patients might be caused by metastasis. The management of these patients is challenging and must be tailored to the clinical background.
Secondary Data Analysis - Creating a MycoMap Project from ONT Amplicon/Barcode Data v2
Authors: Douglas Russell Stephen
Published: March 2023

This protocol outlines many of the steps that can be taken after the primary data analysis to expedite the final analysis - turning your data into results. Topics include creating a dashboard on MycoMap, automated BLAST searches and sequence error flagging, error resolution, linking sequences to iNaturalist observations, submission to GenBank, and many other topics.
Targeted NGS feline respiratory panel including SARS-CoV-2 for Ion Torrent platform v1
Authors: J Kattoor Jobin
Published: March 2023

The current procedure is for NGS of feline respiratory pathogen panel including SARS-CoV-2 for Ion Torrent platform. Note, sensitivity of the method greatly depends on type and quality of samples.
Neuroedumyhts: A Contribution from Socioneuroscience to the Right to Education for All
Authors: Racionero-Plaza Sandra , Flecha Ramón , Carbonell Sara , Rodríguez-Oramas Alfonso
Published: March 2023

Scientific literature about neuromyths has proliferated in the last few years. However, there is a gap of knowledge around neuroedumyths. While neuromyths are based on hoaxes about the brain, neuroedumyths use neuroscientific concepts but state consequences for education that are false. This article presents, for the first time, research about neuroedumyths among teachers. This study has applied the innovative methodology of Public Lectures’ Debates Analytics (PLDA), in its ex-post modality. This has meant the analysis, by the twelve participants interviewed in this research, of the conclusions of public lectures’ debates on neuroscience and education. The results show the presence of four neuroedumyths among teachers: The brain needs to be bored to develop; Violence resides in masculine genes; Brain develops almost completely the first three years of life; and There are right-hemisphere students and left-hemisphere students. While neuromyths have been spread among teachers by trainers specialized in education but lacking scientific information about neuroscience, neuroedumyths have been spread among teachers by neuroscientists lacking scientific information on education. Differently to some previous studies which approached this problem as teachers’ errors or ignorance, the results of our study show that the problem is the errors of some teachers’ trainers.
El Emprendimiento en la Titulación de Pedagogía: Mejora Curricular y Calidad Educativa
Authors: Romero García Carolina , Suárez-Ortega Magdalena
Published: March 2023

Los estudios sobre emprendimiento en la Universidad están incrementándose por las exigencias sociolaborales planteadas a egresados universitarios. Dada la relevancia del área como vía de innovación y mejora de la calidad educativa, se estudia cómo se fomenta el emprendimiento en la titulación de Pedagogía en las universidades españolas. Desde un enfoque interpretativo, se aplica una metodología cualitativa mediante la integración de técnicas mixtas; concretamente: 1) el análisis documental de 934 asignaturas de las 19 universidades públicas donde se imparte la titulación, y 2) la realización de 20 entrevistas semiestructuradas a profesorado de Pedagogía. Los resultados permiten obtener una visión general del emprendimiento en los planes de estudio de las universidades españolas que imparten el título. Específicamente, se analizan los elementos curriculares, poniendo el acento en la metodología didáctica. Más profundamente, se analiza la perspectiva del profesorado, permitiendo comprender el sentido que tiene integrar las competencias emprendedoras en los programas universitarios, la predisposición del alumnado por adquirirlas y el desarrollo de una metodología docente que permita procesos de aprendizaje más constructivos, conscientes y significativos a partir de estas. Por último, se discuten los resultados, estableciendo conclusiones y propuestas para la mejora curricular y la calidad educativa en educación superior.
Mathematical Resilience: how Students Survived in Learning Mathematics Online During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Pulungan Delyanti A. , Retnawati Heri , Jaedun Amat
Published: March 2023

Mathematical resilience is a student's ability to survive and be positive when facing difficulties and anxiety in learning mathematics as indicated by the ability to work collaboratively with groups, and have language skills to communicate mathematical understanding. Learning mathematics online caused various negative conditions for students; reduced learning interactions, internet disturbances, material that was not optimally explained, even low support for studying at home. This study aims to find out about students’ mathematical resilience when taking online mathematics lessons during the Covid 19 Pandemic. A qualitative phenomenological design was used, in which 20 high school students in Medan, participated. Data was collected through an open online questionnaire and interview, due to the implementation of social restrictions in Medan. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. The results are summed up: (1) Implementation and use of mathematics learning platforms during the Covid 19 Pandemic; (2) Adaptation of students learning mathematics; (3) Students' belief in learning mathematics; (4) students' communication skills during mathematics learning; (5) The Support for learning mathematics. This study recommends several suggestions to strengthen students' mathematical resilience in order to overcome mathematical difficulties and problem when taking online mathematics learning.
OKULÖNCESİ DÖNEM MÜZİK EĞİTİMİ DERSLERİNDE ÖĞRETMENLERİN SIKLIKLA KULLANDIKLARI ŞARKILARIN BELİRLENMESİ
Authors: Karakoç Elvan , Ergün Gülşah
Published: March 2023

Müzik eğitiminin, çocukların bedensel, ruhsal, zihinsel gelişimi üzerindeki olumlu etkileri yapılan pek çok araştırmayla açıklanmıştır. Genel eğitimin temel basamağı olan okulöncesi eğitiminde, müzik derslerinin çocuklar ile doğru ve etkili şekilde yapılması, çocukların gelişim süreçleri adına çok önemlidir. Müzik eğitiminin alt dallarından biri olan şarkı söylemek ise çocuklara bebekliklerinden itibaren ilk öğretilen beceridir. Bu araştırmanın amacı, okulöncesi dönem müzik eğitimi derslerinde, öğretmenlerin sıklıkla kullandıkları şarkıları belirlemektir. Çalışma, nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden genel tarama modelinde olup, bir olgu bilim (fenomenoloji) desenine örnektir. Araştırmada, okulöncesi öğretmenlerinin müzik derslerinde sıklıkla kullandıkları ilk beş parçayı belirlemek ve bu parçaları belirlerken dikkat ettikleri hususları incelemek için yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu, Çankırı ve Eskişehir illerinde, 2021-2022 eğitim-öğretim yılında eğitim vermekte olan 41 okulöncesi öğretmeni oluşturmaktadır. Verilerin analizi aşamasında, nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden içerik analizi yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen veriler doğrultusunda, okulöncesi öğretmenlerinin, öğrencilerine 106 farklı şarkı çalıştırdıkları, bu şarkıların analizleri sonucunda, ilk beş şarkının “Kırmızı Balık”, “Heykel”, “Dinazor”, “Elma Kurdu” ve “Ceviz Adam” adlı şarkılar olduğu tespit edilmiştir. İlk beş şarkının ortak özellikleri incelendiğinde; tümünün, eğlenceli, pek çoğu hayvanları konu alan, çocukların dikkatini çekecek ritim ve sözlerde olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır.
Lighting Up a 1 km Fault near a Hydraulic Fracturing Well Using a Machine Learning-Based Picker
Authors: Wang Ruijia , Yang Dikun , Chen Yunfeng , Ren Chenghao
Published: March 2023

The development of portable nodal array in the recent years greatly improved the seismic monitoring ability across multiple scales. The dense arrays also directly benefit microseismic monitoring by providing relatively low-cost surface recordings. However, the rapid growth of seismic data is accompanied by the increased demand for efficient seismic phase picking. On the other hand, machine learning-based phase picking techniques achieved high stability and accuracy, showing promising potential to replace human labors and traditional automatic pickers. In this study, we applied a state-of-the-art package on newly collected nodal array data around a hydraulic fracturing well in southwestern China. The array consists of up to 85 nodes with an average station spacing of less than a kilometer. Within the hydraulic fracturing stimulation periods, we detected ∼3000 seismic events with magnitude down to ∼−2. After waveform cross-correlation-based relocation, the 1979 relocated events clearly light up a 1 km long fault structure and several fractures. Furthermore, the frequency–magnitude distribution of the catalog exhibits weak bilinear features with relatively low b-value (0.88) and a moderate coefficient of variation (Cv ∼2). The nature and origin of the observed earthquake cluster are then discussed and defined based on the industrial information, high-resolution earthquake catalog, and basic statistics. Finally, we summarized our experience and provided recommendations for applying similar approaches to other local scale, surface microseismic monitoring scenarios.
Cascaded Graph Convolution Approach for Nuclei Detection in Histopathology Images
Authors: Bahade Sachin S. , Edwards Michael , Xie Xianghua
Published: March 2023

Nuclei detection in histopathology images of cancerous tissue stained with conventional hematoxylin and eosin stain is a challenging task due to the complexity and diversity of cell data. Deep learning techniques have produced encouraging results in the field of nuclei detection, where the main emphasis is on classification and regressionbased methods. Recent research has demonstrated that regression-based techniques outperform classification. In this paper, we propose a classification model based on graph convolutions to classify nuclei, and similar models to detect nuclei using cascaded architecture. With nearly 29,000 annotated nuclei in a large dataset of cancer histology images, we evaluated the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Graph Convolutional Networks (GCN) based approaches. Our findings demonstrate that graph convolutions perform better with a cascaded GCN architecture and are more stable than centre-of-pixel approach. We have compared our twofold evaluation quantitative results with CNN-based models such as Spatial Constrained Convolutional Neural Network (SC-CNN) and Centre-of-Pixel Convolutional Neural Network (CP-CNN). We used two different loss functions, binary cross-entropy and focal loss function, and also investigated the behaviour of CP-CNN and GCN models to observe the effectiveness of CNN and GCN operators. The compared quantitative F1 score of cascaded-GCN shows an improvement of 6% compared to state-of-the-art methods.
Primary antiphospholipid syndrome with celiac and splenic artery thrombosis
Authors: Arun Kumar Alagesan  , R. Kannan , V. Vikrannth , J. Raghav
Published: March 2023

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoantibody mediated acquired thrombophilia characterized by recurrent arterial or venous thrombosis and or pregnancy morbidity. We describe a case of 32-year-old female who had a medical history of APLA presented with complaints of abdominal pain for 20 days. On evaluation, CT abdomen contrast revealed celiac and splenic artery thrombosis. She was successfully treated with IV unfractionated heparin, warfarin and antiplatelets.
A case series of comparative study of two cell block methods
Authors: Charpe Prasad Santosh , Patil Lalita Yoganand , Subhramanian Meenakshi Bala , Dodake Kallappa , Lande Shruti , Rajgadkar Bharati
Published: March 2023

Cell block method for assessment of body fluids, effusions, material obtained from FNA’s is simple, inexpensive and overcomes the pitfalls of conventional cytology such as atypical metaplasia, crowding of cells, reparative changes and staining artifact

This retrospective study was done from October 2020 to February 2021 at tertiary care hospital. Various samples of body fluids (peritoneal, pleural, cererbrospinal fluid, bronchial wash, synovial fluids, pus, endometrial aspirate, sputum, urine received in cytology section studied. The cell blocks by formalin and plasma-thrombin methods are prepared and compared with each other and comparison of their diagnostic accuracy with diagnostic accuracy of conventional smear method

On comparison of formalin and plasma-thrombin methods, the median score of plasma-thrombin method is 5 while that of formalin based method is 4. The diagnostic accuracy of plasma-thrombin method is 69.23% and that of formalin based method is 68.19%

The cell block helps in providing additional cellular details and nuclear features when studied in conjunction with conventional smear. The plasma thrombin method provides better cellular details but in low cost setting it is not cost effective. Formalin method is both cost effective and handy.
Immunohistochemical markers in differential diagnosis of endometrial stromal sarcoma and leiomyosarcoma in an endometrial polyp: A case report
Authors: Hawaldar Ranjana , Khan Shana Nikhat , Patidar Ekta
Published: March 2023

Leiomyosarcoma is the malignant counterpart of leiomyoma. It arises from smooth muscle of the uterus and is rare tumor that account for 2-5% of all uterine malignancy. We report a case of 60 years old female who presented with post menopausal bleeding with endometrial polyp. A total abdominal hysterectomy specimen was received in our center. A differential diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma/ Endometrial stromal sarcoma was made by histopathological examination. Immunohistochemistry report confirmed the diagnosis of uterine Leiomyosarcoma.
Urethral rhinosporidiosis – A case report
Authors: Majumder Ankita , Dhakane Maruti A , Gite Vandana
Published: March 2023

Rhinosporidiosis is an infectious disease caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi, an aquatic protistan parasite. It usually affects the nasal mucosa. Extranasal locations are reported limitedly in medical literatures. Here, we present a case report of an isolated urethral rhinosporidiosis, quite a rare entity, with mode of presentation and management in brief.
Is Pattern of Acceptable Noise Level Growth for Apparently Normal Contralateral Ear Similar to Affected Ear in Unilateral Meniere’s Disease?
Authors: Nasiri Elahe , Jalilvand Hamid , Yazdani Nasrin , Mahdavi Mohammad Ebrahim , Akbarzadeh Baghban Alireza
Published: March 2023

Background and Aim: The Acceptance Noise Level (ANL) which determines the tolerable noise level while listening to running speech, is related to factors such as hearing loss and speech presentation level. This study aims to investigate the effect of speech presentation level on the ANL in people with unilateral Meniere’s Disease (MD) compared to the normal-hearing people.
Methods: In this study, 33 people aged 32–60 years with unilateral MD and 38 normal-hearing people aged 20–46 years participated. The ANL growth was evaluated unilaterally at four different speech presentation levels: Most Comfortable Level (MCL), –10 dB lower than the MCL, +10 dB higher than the MCL, and a range between MCL and uncomfortable level.
Results: In MD patients, the ANL of the affected ear was significantly different from that of the contralateral ear (p<0.010). Compared to the normal-hearing people, the pattern of ANL growth in MD patients was significantly different, but the ANL growth patterns were similar between the affected and contralateral ears.
Conclusion: ANL and its growth pattern are different between the affected and contralateral ears of patients with unilateral MD, but are similar compared to normal-hearing people. Despite the apparently normal hearing thresholds, the performance of the contralateral ear in noise at various speech presentation levels in patients with unilateral MD seems to be similar to that of the affected ear.
Keywords: Meniere disease; hearing loss; acceptable noise level
A Comparison of the Digits-in-Noise Test and Extended High Frequency Response between Formally Trained Musicians and Non-Musicians
Authors: Dreyer Belinda , Pottas Lidia , Soer Maggi , Graham Marien Alet
Published: March 2023

Background and Aim: Musical training has been hypothesised to result in enhanced Speech Perception in Noise (SPIN) abilities, but prolonged exposure to music  also  increases  the risk for Music-Induced Hearing Loss (MIHL). The Signal-to-Noise Ratios (SNR) and the Extended High Frequency (EHF) thresholds between formally trained musicians and non- musicians were compared to determine the effect of musical training on musicians’ SPIN and hearing abilities.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 40 musicians and 39 non-musicians 18–30 years, with mean age (SD) 22.43(2.71) years. EHF audiometry and the Digits-in-Noise (DIN) test were conducted via a smartphone.
Results: Differences found between the two groups regarding the DIN test and EHF thresholds were statistically insignificant. Musicians displayed early signs of MIHL as the musicians reported significantly more (p=0.004) instances of tinnitus than non-musicians. A statistically significant correlation was found only for the non-musician group between the 12.5 kHz threshold left and the SNR obtained in the diotic listening condition (rs=-0.465; p=0.003).
Conclusion: The results suggested that musicians did not display a significant advantage for SPIN and did not appear to have significantly poorer EHF hearing sensitivity. However, slight trends were noticeable in the musicians which gravitated more towards studies that found enhanced SPIN abilities and elevated EHF thresholds in the musician population. In the future, it may be useful to include additional speech tests (open-set) alongside the DIN test (closed-set). The present study suggests that EHF audiometry may be used for the early detection of MIHL.
Keywords: Music; audiometry; hearing loss; noise-induced; pitch discrimination; sound localization
Real-ear Unaided Gain in Wrestlers with Unilateral Cauliflower Ear
Authors: Pahlavan Yali Kamal , Maarefvand Mohammad
Published: March 2023

Background and Aim: Real-Ear Unaided Gain(REUG) can reveal the outer-ear resonance which reflects the effects of body and ear factors. Deformity in the outer ear may change the real-ear unaided responses. Cauliflower ear is a common ear deformity in wrestlers. Therefore, the use of required hearing aid gain in people with hearing loss for people with cauliflower ears may be inaccurate and causes dissatisfaction. This study aimed to compare the REUG of normal and cauliflower ear in wrestlers to investigate the frequencies at which the gain may be inaccurate.
Methods: Ten male wrestlers with the age ranged from 21 to 31 years participated in this study. The study had within-subject design and only one group. The REUGs was recorded for both ears (normal and cauliflower ears) and the results analyzed.
Results: The mean of REUG values were significantly different between the deformed and normal ears. There were two distinct peaks in the REUG curve of the deformed ear, while there was a single peak in that of the normal ear.
Conclusion: The differences in the REUG at 2–6 kHz between the deformed and normal ears should be adjusted to reach the optimal hearing level for a hearing aid user with cauliflower ear.
Keywords: Cauliflower ear; real ear unaided gain; hearing aid verification; target gain
Evaluation of the Necessity of CT Scan Requests in Hospitals Affiliated With Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran, in 2019
Authors: Sarab Hasti Anani , Zarghani Hassan
Published: March 2023

Background: A computed tomography (CT) scan is one of the medical imaging methods that is currently used to diagnose and treat numerous diseases in a timely manner. Therefore, the widespread use of ionizing radiation in recent years has raised concerns about cancer. Given that individuals are exposed to ionizing radiation during a CT scan, they might be at a higher risk of developing cancer.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the necessity of CT scan requests in hospitals affiliated with Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran, in 2019.
Methods: The statistical population consisted of 1,034 patients, selected by purposive sampling and relevant statistical formula. Patients’ information included gender, age, electronic code, and the imaged area. All the data were extracted by considering all ethical principles and recorded in prepared checklists. Additionally, the normality or abnormality of each CT scan was determined based on a radiologist’s report. The obtained information was analyzed by SPSS software (version 22).
Results: Out of 1,034 patients, 547 (52.9%) and 487 (47.1%) subjects were female and male, respectively. The CT scans consisted of 687 (66.44%), 296 (28.62%), and 51 (4.93%) of the brain, abdomen-pelvis, and neck, respectively. The lowest and highest percentages of unnecessary cases belonged to the CT scans of the neck (31.37%) and brain (64.48%).
Conclusions: In all tests, 58.6% of CT scans performed on patients were unnecessary. In addition to high doses of radiation endangering the patient’s health, these unnecessary procedures impose additional costs on the hospital and the patient.
Effect of Vitamin C Therapy on Serum Parameters in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Clinical Trial
Authors: Kordestani Shiva , Behzad Razavi Seyyed , Najaf Najafi Mona , Layegh Parvin , Miri Moghaddam Mohammadmobin , Aali Amirali , Mohebbi Masoud
Published: March 2023

Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a leading cause of morbidity and death worldwide. DM will affect 570.9 million people worldwide by 2025. The usefulness of vitamin C in improving diabetes control has been a point of contention.
 Materials and Methods: This clinical-trial double-blind study with control groups was conducted on 164 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The intervention group received 1000 mg of oral vitamin C daily, and a placebo was administered to the controls. To analyze the obtained data, one-way ANOVA was used in SPSS software (version 20). A P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Fasting blood sugar (FBS), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were improved significantly in the intervention group (P< 0.05), while the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and cholesterol were unaffected (P> 0.05). HbA1C and LDL levels in the control group increased significantly (P< 0.05). Meanwhile, this group's HDL levels decreased considerably.
Conclusion: Our findings support the consumption of vitamin C to complement the primary treatment for DM. According to our results, vitamin C provides a clear benefit over a placebo in the treatment of diabetic patients' serum parameters.
Comparison of Eight Weeks Exposure to Sunlight and Home-Based Pilates Training on Serum Vitamin D , CCL20 and Body Composition of Overweight Multiple Sclerosis Women
Authors: Vahdatpoor Halimeh , Askari Roya , Shakarian Saeid , Marefati Hamid , Kashani Kaveh
Published: March 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare eight weeks of exposure to sunlight and Home-Based Pilates Training serum vitamin D, CCL20, and the body composition of women with multiple sclerosis.
Materials and Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental study. Among women with Multiple sclerosis (with2-5EDSS), 44 were purposefully and voluntarily selected and randomly divided into three groups: Pilates at home) n=15), Pilates exposed to the sun (n=15) and control (n=14) were divided. The training program consisted of three sessions per week for eight weeks, consisting of two parts, Pilates training at home and Pilates training in the environment. An exercise program on the DVD was provided. The Serum vitamin D, CCL20 indices, and body composition of patients with MS were measured 48 hours before and after eight Pilates exercises at home and under sunlight. To analyze the data, analysis of covariance and Bonferroni post hoc test, SPSS software, and P≤ 0.05 significance level.
Results: Comparing the results in the two stages showed that there was a significant difference between CCL20 (P= 0.001), serum vitamin D (P= 0.001), BMI (P= 0.001), weight (P= 0.001) and WHR (P= 0.001) indices of women with MS in the studied groups. These differences were only between the training groups and the control group. However, there was a significant difference in the CCL20 index and serum vitamin D between the two training groups (Respectively P= 0.037, P= 0.001).
Conclusion: Patients with MS can improve their vitamin D level and weight-related and inflammatory indicators by using Pilates exercises exposed to sunlight and at home with minimal cost.
Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Body Shaming and Self-Criticism of Obese Adolescents Referred to Nutrition Clinics in Tehran in 2019
Authors: Rouyan Masoumeh , Torab Elham , Montazer Samaneh , Agha Babaie Mona , Sepahram Sarvin , Shast Fouladi Katayoon
Published: March 2023

Objective: Obesity is one of the most frequent concerns among teenagers, and it may lead to a variety of chronic disorders including heart disease and cancer. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on body shay and self-criticism of obese adolescents referred to nutrition clinics in Tehran in 2019.
 Materials and Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental method and a pre-test-post-test with a control group. Twenty-four obese volunteer adolescents were selected and assigned to an experimental group (n=12) and a control group (n=12). The experimental group received 90-minute weekly sessions for 2.5 months (10 sessions), while the control group did not receive any intervention. Before and after the training phase, all the participants completed the body image shame scale (BISS ) and the Forms of Self-Criticizing/Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS). Data were analyzed through multivariate analysis of variance (ANCOVA) by using SPSS 22 software.
Results: The CBT group decreased significantly more in body shaming and self-criticism of obese adolescents compared with the control group (P< 0.001).
Conclusion: In general, the findings revealed a substantial difference in body shaming and self-criticism among obese teenagers between the experimental groups. In obese teens, CBT reduced body shaming and self-criticism. Furthermore, this research showed that CBT could help obese teenagers with body shaming and self-criticism.
Effectiveness of sexual health counseling based on mindfulness approach on sexual satisfaction in women suffering from infertility: An RCT
Authors: Nejad Sara Hosseini , Bokaie Mahshid , Yassini Ardekani Seyed Mojtaba
Published: March 2023

Background: The infertility phenomenon affects physiological and psychosocial aspects. Sexual counseling can improve sexual and marital satisfaction.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of sexual health counseling based on the mindfulness approach on sexual satisfaction of women suffering from infertility.
Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 44 women suffering from infertility referred to the Yazd Reproductive Science Institute, Yazd, Iran. Women were randomly divided into 2 groups. The intervention group (n = 22) received 8 sessions of sexual counseling, while control group (n = 22) received routine care. The data collection tool was the sexual satisfaction questionnaire.
Results: The mean age of women was 30.05 ± 4.9 yr, infertility duration was 6.83 ± 4.27 yr, and the mean duration of marriage was 8.3 ± 4.01 yr. The mean score of sexual satisfaction of women suffering from infertility in the intervention group was 62.9 ± 7.32, 71.6 ± 5.95, and 70.9 ± 6.26, before the intervention (baseline), after intervention (8th wk), and follow-up (12th wk) respectively. The mean score of sexual satisfaction of women suffering from infertility in the control group was 63.3 ± 6.82, 64.2 ± 7.93, and 62.25 ± 7.99, at baseline, 8th wk later, and after follow-up (12th wk), respectively. Sexual satisfaction scores increased before and one month after the intervention in the counseling group, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Mindfulness-based sexual health counseling programs may improve sexual satisfaction in women suffering from infertility in the intervention group.
Key words: Infertility, Women, Sexual satisfaction, Mindfulness, Psychology.
The effect of Coronavirus disease pandemic on maternal and neonatal health: A cohort study from Isfahan, Iran
Authors: Ansari Hourieh , Amini Zahra , Madreseh Elham
Published: March 2023

Background: The Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may profoundly impact on maternal and neonatal health worldwide. However, a few studies have investigated this topic.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and neonatal health.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed collected data from March to May 2020, and the same period in 2019, involving 5711 pregnant women referring to comprehensive healthcare centers in Isfahan province health facilities, Iran. Pregnant women and neonates were followed-up until 40 days after the delivery. Demographic characteristics, pre-pregnancy, antenatal care, and postpregnancy variables were collected.
Results: A total of 5,711 pregnant women were studied, of whom 3477 (61%) were referred in 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic as nonexposed) and 2234 (39%) during the COVID-19 pandemic (as exposed group) in 2020. For those living in cities with a population of > 20,000, the number of antenatal care were lower about 2% compared to nonexposed group (p = 0.01). The number of mothers with a history of the underlying disease who referred to a comprehensive healthcare center during the COVID-19 pandemic (47%) was lower about 6% compared to nonexposed group (41%) (p < 0.001). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of hypertension and gestational diabetes mellitus was 5% (n = 109) and 20% (n = 445), which were higher about 2% and 4%, respectively, compared to nonexposed group. The COVID-19 pandemic had no other significant effect on mothers’ and neonates’ other characteristics than nonexposed group.
Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic imposes no significant effect on mothers’ and neonates’ health compared to nonexposed group.
Key words: Maternal health, Neonatal health, Pregnancy, COVID-19.
Reproductive status of male rat offspring following exposure to methamphetamine during intrauterine life: An experimental study
Authors: Some Saraii Zahra Khoshgoftar , Dianaty Soroush , Rouhollah Fatemeh , Zare Nayereh , Yekta Batool Ghorbani
Published: March 2023

Background: Methamphetamine abuse during pregnancy is associated with maternal and fetal adverse outcomes. Methamphetamine induces reproductive damage in adults; however, its effect has not been studied during pregnancy.
Objective: To investigate the effects of methamphetamine exposure during pregnancy on the reproductive system.
Materials and Methods: Fifteen pregnant Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 5/group), they received daily intraperitoneal injections of saline or methamphetamine (5, and 10 mg/kg) from day 10 until the end of pregnancy. One adult male offspring was selected from each dam. Subjects were euthanized, and their testis was removed. Sperm samples from cauda epididymis were analyzed for sperm concentration, morphology, and motility. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling assay was used to detect apoptotic cells. Levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 protein (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2 associated X-protein were measured using Western blot.
Results: Methamphetamine significantly decreased sperm concentration (5 mg vs. saline: p = 0.001, 10 mg vs. saline: p < 0.001), normal sperm morphology (saline vs. 10 mg: p = 0.001), and motility (p: saline vs. 5 mg = 0.004, 5 mg vs. 10 mg = 0.011, saline vs. 10 mg < 0.001) in a dose-dependent manner. There was a significantly higher number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling -positive cells and higher exposure. Moreover, Bcl-2 associated X-protein was increased, and Bcl-2 was decreased in these rats.
Conclusion: The present study shows that chronic methamphetamine exposure during intrauterine period can induce apoptosis of seminiferous tubules and decrease sperm quality in adult rats. Moreover, we showed that the intrinsic apoptotic pathway is involved in this process. Further studies are required to identify the complete molecular pathway of these results.
Key words: Methamphetamine, Testis, Fertility, Reproduction, Apoptosis, Intrauterine exposure.
Accurate Identification of Leishmania Parasites in Sand flies by Polymorphism Analysis of Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit 2 Gene Using Polymerase Chain Reaction and Quantitative PCR-High Resolution Melting Techniques in Iranian Border with Iraq
Authors: Ghafari Seyedeh Maryam , Fotouhi- Ardakani Reza , Parvizi Parviz
Published: March 2023

Background: Firmly identification of Leishmania in Phlebotomus papatasi and understanding of natural transmission cycles of parasites in sand flies are important for treatment and local control.
Methods: Modified and developed method of High Resolution Melting (HRM) as a preferable technique was employed to accurate identification of Leishmania in sand flies from Iranian border with Iraq, by targeting cytochrome oxidase II (COII) gene and designing suitable primers. PCR products cloned into pTG19-T vector, then purified plasmid concen­tration was measured at 260 and 280nm wavelength. The melting curve plots were generated and DNA sequences were analyzed using Sequencher 3.1.1, CLC Main Workbench 5.5, MEGA 6, DnaSP5.10.01 and MedCalc® version 13.3.3 soft wares.
Results: Among about 3000 collected sand flies, 89 female Ph. papatasi were identified and two with L. major. In am­plified fragment of COII gene among 611bp, 452bp had no genetic variations with low polymorphic sites (P= 0.001) and high synonymous (79.8%) as compare to non-synonymous sites (20.2%). Leishmania major was discriminated in Ph. papatasi with 0.84 °C melting temperature (Tm) and unique curve based on thermodynamic differences was an im­portant criterion using HRM technique.
Conclusion: Subsequent war in Iraq made a high risk habitat for parasites transmission. It is important to discover accu­rate diagnostic procedures for leishmaniasis control.
Biodiversity and Spatial Distribution of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Kurdistan Province, Western Iran
Authors: Sharifi Farid , Banafshi Omid , Rasouli Ali , Ghoreishi Shadi , Saeedi Samrand , Khalesi Mahmood , Rezai Afshar , Moradi Asl Eslam , Zareie Bushra , Khodlan Nasrollah Veisi , Veysi Arshad
Published: March 2023

Background: Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) have always been considered as the vector/s of viral and parasitic dis­eases. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive survey on the species composition, spatial distribution, and biodi­versity indices of mosquitoes in Kurdistan Province, western Iran.
Methods: This study was carried out in 10 counties of Kurdistan Province. The immature stages of mosquitoes were collected monthly from June to September. ArcGIS software was used to spatial analysis and create maps. Alpha diver­sity indices were calculated using the related formula.
Results: Totally, 5831 larvae belonging to the family Culicidae were collected. Twelve species were identified includ­ing: Anopheles claviger, An. maculipennis s.l, An. superpictus s.l, Culiseta. longiareolata, Cs. subochrea, Culex horten­sis, Cx. mimeticus, Cx. perexiguus, Cx. pipiens, Cx. theileri, Cx. modestus and Cx. territans. Based on this analysis, the high-risk areas of the province are determined as Anopheles in the west, Culex in the north, and the Culiseta in the south of the province. Analyzing the Alpha biodiversity indices showed Baneh and Sarabad had the maximum and Bijar had the minimum mosquito biodiversity.
Conclusion: The western counties of the province are regarded as the hotspots for anopheline mosquitos. Moreover, reporting of malaria cases in the past, bordering with Iraq and the high traffic of travelers have made these areas as po­tential foci for malaria transmission. So that, routine entomological inspections are proposed to detect any suspicious vector or case entrance.
The Effect of the Qur'anic Evidence in Favoring Different Issues in it Between the Factors of Al-Jurjani and Al-Barkawi
Authors: AL Dulaimi Omar Ali , Khudaier Abbas Omer Abbas
Published: March 2023

The best of what he wrote on the factors, Mukhtasar Al-Jarjani (d. 471 AH) and Mukhtasar Al-Barkawi (d. 881 AH), although the second author wrote his book "To rectify the first after nearly four centuries" Al-Jurjani's book still takes precedence, preferring his issues over the second, which he came to rectify, according to the researchers' opinion, as it became clear to us in the issues we discussed. Prepositions, as it is not well-known among prepositions, and prepositions are strange, as mentioned by Al-Ashmouni, and by the consensus of grammarians, the preposition does not work with the apparent noun, and its common use comes with the apparent noun and the separate pronoun. How does it work with the relative pronoun? The name of the condition (if) is not the factor of assertiveness, but it is a compound of (if) and (what), so the tool becomes (if), but the assertion does not work; because of Jazm tools, Jazm worked; to include the meaning of (if) the conditional in terms of meaning, it indicates doubt about the occurrence of a thing or possibility, or the impossible, unlike (if), which indicates certainty or preponderance. And (if) is the same tool (if) and is attached to it (what), then it is not working, just as it is not mentioned in a Qur'anic text that it is working. What also differed in it was the ratio of factors to listening and measurement, in factors that Al-Jurjani counted as aural, which Al-Barkawi counted as standard. Because if the factors are limited in number, then it is more appropriate for them to be auditory for the standard condition to be continuous and to be made under total control, or for a universal rule that applies to all its members, and this condition is not fulfilled in what was limited to a number.
Keywords: grammatical factors, Al-Jurjani and Al-Barkawi factors, balancing stud factors, Al Jurjani's factors, Al-Barkawy's factors