leila rezaei

The first-person narrator should be considered a "narrator-character" who is simultaneously a narrator and an experiencing character. From a semiotic-semantic point of view, the first-person narrator is a 'becoming" subject narrating his/her own experience from the surrounding world. The identity of the first-person narrative depends on this binary function; however, sometimes it takes effort to balance them since occasionally the first-person narrator only acts as a narrator (like a third-person narrator). Reviewing the background of the narratologists' theories, such as Stanzel (1984) and Fludernik (2002), shows that despite recognising these binary functions, the existing challenges and the ways to keep the balance have yet to be studied so far. The present study aims to develop the discussion of binary functions of the first-person narrator in a descriptive-analytical way by using the semiotics-semantics approach regarding "becoming" discourse to investigate the causes and the solutions regarding these binary functions. The statistical population of this research consists of nine novels: "The Blind Owl", "The School Principal", "The Year of Riot", "The Neighbors", "The Story of a City", "The Scorched Earth", "The Dog and the Long Winter", "I Turn Off the Lights" and "my bird". The result shows that in the "description" and "dialogue of characters", the role of experience is a severe challenge. In addition, the involvement of the narrator's mind in the narrative through referring to his/her feelings, thinking, judgment, interpretation, or speculation, along with methods such as "association" and "stream of consciousness", can be effective strategies to balance the binary functions.

 Hookah smoking is now increasing and has become a serious public health warning worldwide. Hookah smoking has led to the transmission of infectious diseases. This study investigates the microbial contamination of hookah mouth tips in Bandar Abbas City, Iran.

 This descriptive study was conducted in Bandar Abbas City, Iran. The hookah mouth tip samples were obtained from various hookah supply centers and the Ultersnap U device measured the microbial load of hookah mouth tips. The microbial load ranks were divided into three categories. Meanwhile, data analysis was done using the SPSS software, version 26.

 The highest contamination tips were observed in the beach boulevard (Saheli-Blv), where vendors operate. In three parks, namely Park-e-Ghadir, Park-e-Dowlat, and 13-Hektar, one contaminated hookah mouth tip was observed in each station. A significant difference was observed between the stations in both clean and warning levels; however, this difference was not significant in the contaminated level (P˃0.05). The highest level of contamination was observed in the guild of peddlers. A significant difference was also observed between the guilds in both clean and warning levels, but this difference was not significant in the contaminated level (P˃0.05).

 Our results showed that a significant number of hookah mouth tips were in warning and contaminated levels. The highest number of contaminated hookah mouth tips were observed in the peddlers guild, which is strongly recommended to collect and prevent their inactivity, especially in public places. In addition, health warnings should be posted on all tobacco products and the environment of smoking and or cafes.

 Chronic ailments usually decrease the quality of life due to the requirement for repetitive administration of drugs. Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease occurred because of increased intraocular pressure (IOP). Controlled-release inserts can overcome this challenge by a gradual release of the antiglaucoma drugs. This study aimed to fabricate ocular inserts of brimonidine tartrate (BMD) for the management of glaucoma.

 Different polymers including poly (D, L-lactide), polycaprolactone, cellulose acetate, and Eudragit RL100® were used to develop the BMD-loaded nanofibrous inserts by electrospinning technique. The inserts were characterized. The morphology and drug-polymer compatibility were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and in vitro drug release in PBS. The IOP-lowering efficacy and irritancy of optimized formulation were assessed in the caprines.

 SEM images demonstrated nanofibers with uniform morphology and a mean diameter<300 nm were fabricated. The nanofibers were high-strength and flexible enough to be placed in the conjunctival sac. FTIR showed drug-polymer compatibility. In vitro release study indicated a sustained-release profile of the drug during 6 days for inserts. In vivo evaluation indicated that the optimized formulation is capable of maintaining the IOP in a non-glaucomatous range for an extended duration of 6 days. In addition, the formulation was non-irritant to the caprine eye.

 Due to the prolonged IOP-lowering efficiency, BMD-loaded nanofibrous inserts can be considered suitable for the controlled release of drugs and thus enhance patient compliance by reducing the frequency of administration.

The poor degradability of antibiotics in conventional wastewater treatment processes has recently encouraged researchers to use advanced oxidation processes based on persulfate (PS) activation. Therefore, the aim of our study was to remove ceftriaxone through the activation of persulfate with zero valence zinc/ultrasonic waves (Zn0/US).

In this laboratory study, the sample containing the antibiotic ceftriaxone was subjected to persulfate activation through an ultrasonic probe with a frequency of 40 kHz. Optimization of operational parameters such as initial pH, catalyst dose, initial ceftriaxone concentration, reaction time and persulfate concentration was done through response surface methodology (RSM). In optimal conditions, synergistic effect, changes in wavelength scanning, mineralization rate and radical scavenger effect were studied. Finally, ceftriaxone concentration, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) were measured through diagnostic devices.

Based on RSM analysis of variance, the maximum removal of antibiotic (94.54%), COD (66%) and TOC (54%) in laboratory conditions including pH equal to 3, 0.75 mg/L persulfate and catalyst concentration, 15 mg/L ceftriaxone and 45 minutes of reaction time were obtained. The presence of tert-butyl alcohol and ethanol as scavengers of hydroxyl and sulfate radicals decreased the efficiency rate of the process to 79% and 45% in the reaction time of 45 minutes and emphasized that the active species participate in ceftriaxone degradation.

Based on the results, the process of Zn0/US/PS can be considered as a pretreatment process for the effective removal of ceftriaxone from water environments.

Aggregates form the structural skeleton of the asphalt mixture. Thus, the physical, mechanical, and chemical characteristics of the stone play significant role on the performance of the asphalt. By identifying the geological characteristics of the aggregates, vital information could be obtained about the behavior of asphalt during utilization. In this research, 13 carbonate mountain mines with diverse geological formations located in Ardabil, Isfahan, Tehran, Zanjan, Semnan, Qom and Hamadan provinces were sampled. The geological characteristics of the rocks in each mine, including the type of texture, the minerals and its constituent elements, were identified and the influence of the determined geological characteristics on the experiments results of Asphalt samples were investigated and evaluated. These experiments include boiling water, indirect tension, marshall strength ratio of asphalt, as well as bitumen absorption of the aggregates. The results of the investigations show that the type of microscopic texture of carbonate rocks is influential in reducing or increasing bitumen absorption. In addition, the presence of evaporative minerals, even in small amounts, increases the moisture sensitivity of asphalt.

This study, which was conducted by a qualitative and phenomenological method, aims to identify the competencies that MA graduated students of Educational Management need for educational leadership in the VUCA situation. In this regard, the data were collected by targeted sampling and semi-structured interviews with graduates of Educational Management about their experience of facing with COVID-19 crisis, and the expectations of their employers, views of faculty members and policy makers. The data were analyzed with conceptualization and categorization techniques. Highlighting the challenges of education management in the conditions of VUCA, 25 competencies were extracted which are needed for educational managers. These competencies which include self-regulation, self-leadership, self-efficacy, the ability to use the capacities of society, networking, adaptability, daring, resilience, having skills in emerging technologies, anxiety and distress management, and electronic education and learning management are neglected in most of the competency models for educational managers.

Different devices have diverse accuracy in diagnosing glaucoma, and therefore choosing the best device is challenging. Thereby, this study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of imaging devices in glaucoma and explore the need for an updated meta-analysis on this issue.  

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched for articles published between January 2004 and 2022. Cross-sectional or diagnostic studies were selected, and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were measured. 

A total of 28 cross-sectional studies were included for meta-analysis. Devices were divided into 2 groups, based on the optic nerve area and the macular area. For the nerve area, the pooled sensitivity was 77% (CI 95%, 70-83; I2, 90.01%) and the pooled specificity was 89% (CI 95%, 84-92, I2, 93.22%), and for the macular area, the pooled sensitivity was 87% (CI 95%, 80-92, I2, 91.79%), and the pooled specificity was 90% (CI 95%, 84-94; I2, 86.30%). We analyzed each device separately. For optical coherence tomography(OCT), the pooled sensitivity was 85% (CI 95%, 81-89; I2, 87.82%) and the pooled specificity was 89% (CI 95%, 85-92; I2, 84.39%); for Heidelberg retinal tomography (HRT), the pooled sensitivity was 72% (CI 95%, 57-83; I2, 88.94%) and the pooled specificity was 79% (CI 95%, 62-90; I2, 98.61%), and for optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), the pooled sensitivity was 82% (CI 95%, 66-91; I2, 93.71%) and the pooled specificity was 93% (CI 95%, 87-96; I2, 64.72%).  

The macular area was more sensitive and specific than the optic nerve head. Furthermore, OCT had higher sensitivity, and OCTA had higher specificity when compared with other imaging devices.

Cigarette contamination due to contact with contaminated hands is one of the problems of bulk cigarette distribution. This study was conducted to investigate the microbial contamination of unpackaged cigarettes in Bandar Abbas City, Iran. 

This study was conducted among various distributors of bulk cigarettes (peddlers, stalls, and supermarkets) in Bandar Abbas City. Cigarette samples were dried, and the microbial quality of their filter was evaluated by Ultersnap U microbial load measuring device. To express the index of microbial contamination, based on the defined scale of the device, RLUs (relative light units) ≤10 indicate cleanliness, 11 to 29 denote the warning level, and ≥30 signify contamination. 

Our results showed that 26.9% of cigarettes were sold by vendors, 65.4% by stalls, and 7.7% by supermarkets. The prevalence rates of microbial contamination in standard packaged and unpackaged (bulk) cigarettes were 2.3% and 46.2%, respectively. Among the examined samples, 17.3% were clean, 36.5% were contaminated at the warning level, and 46.2% were contaminated. The percentages of contaminated cigarettes sold by vendors, stalls, and supermarkets were 50%, 47.1%, and 25%, respectively.

The results of this study underscore microbial contamination as another side risk that can be transferred directly from the hands of the supplier to the mouth of the consumer. The intensity of contamination was different based on the place of supply (sales units). Therefore, more attention should be paid to the organization of distribution units of these products.

 High blood sugar is a typical reaction to stress. In the diabetic population, hyperglycemia can be a serious issue and has been linked to higher mortality rates. Recent studies have shown that anesthetics reduced glucose tolerance; however, it is still unclear how propofol, ketamine, and thiopental of Na affect glucose metabolism. The present study compared the blood glucose levels of thiopental of Na, ketamine, and propofol among patients with cataract surgery.

 The study included 135 ASA II and III adult patients of both genders who were older than 65, known to have type II diabetes, receiving intravenous (IV) sedation, and scheduled for cataract surgery. The three groups were comparable with regard to patients, age, gender, weight, duration of the operation time, duration of recovery time, duration of diabetes, and anesthesiologist’s physical status (based on the American Society of Anesthesiology). Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups, including receiving IV thiopental of Na 5 mg/kg/h (group T), ketamine 2 mg/kg/h (group K), or propofol 2 mg/kg/h (group P) after the induction of IV sedation with 1-2 mic/kg fentanyl and 0.03 mg/kg midazolam. Changes in blood glucose levels were examined as dependent variables in patients with cataract surgeries while under the influence of these medications up to 6 hours after.

 The results showed that blood glucose concentrations increased significantly over time in all groups. Moreover, blood glucose concentrations did not differ significantly between the groups receiving the thiopental of Na ketamine or propofol at any measurement time. During the first post-administrative hour, the thiopental of Na, ketamine, and propofol groups demonstrated blood glucose levels of 114.2±16.24 mg/dL, 136.2±12.28 mg/dL, and 122.2±13.84 mg/dL, which were not statistically significant (P=0.72). Regarding the frequency and severity of blood glucose level changes during or after surgery, the groups did not significantly differ at any point in time.

 The findings of the present study suggest that the thiopental of Na, ketamine, and propofol have equal effects on glucose metabolism.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of exposure to hookah smoke on the respiratory capacity of employees working in hookah cafes in Bandar Abbas.

A total of 75 employees of hookah cafes and 64 people in the control group were the target population. Participants without a history of smoking, diabetes, and hypertension were included in the study. First, the height and weight of subjects were measured and then a respiratory test was performed by an occupational medicine specialist. At the same time, a checklist was completed, which contained demographic characteristics, history of working in hookah cafes, pulmonary diseases, hypertension, smoking, exercising, and a second job.

The mean age of the case and control groups was found to be 31.41 and 30.73 years, respectively. The mean values of the indices in the case and the control groups were as follows: forced expiratory volume (FEV1): 84.4% and 89.9%, forced vital capacity (FVC): 91.5% and 91.1%, forced expiratory flow 25-75 (FEF25-75): 78.7% and 75.9%, and peak expiratory flow (PEF): 87.2% and 95.2%, respectively. A significant relationship was found between exposure to hookah smoke and the lung capacity of employees working in hookah cafes (P <0.001).

Based on the findings of the study and in order to reduce passive exposure to hookah smoke and its negative consequences, officials should review and apply strict rules on hookah use and monitor and control the air quality inside hookah cafes.

The introduction of blockchain technology into the food supply chain represents a digital revolution that has led to widespread advances in tracking food security. This article presents a comprehensive review of the literature on the use of blockchain in the food supply chain. This article is a review of the synthesis evidence Best group. We have focused on the supply chains of meat, fruits and vegetables. The Literature review has been conducted from seven different databases. For more insight, we categorized meat, fruit, and vegetable articles into four groups: descriptive, prescriptive, conceptual, and predictive. Due to the small number of case studies in research, the theoretical and conceptual frameworks proposed in most food supply chain articles, including the supply chain of meat, fruits and vegetables, have been less tested in reality. These surveys and small-scale case studies do not clearly and completely identify the impact of blockchain on the meat, fruit and vegetable supply chain and the challenges that blockchain implementation may pose to these supply chains. Findings indicate that little valid and quality research has been done in this field and more research is needed on the use of blockchain in the supply chain of fresh products.

Prolonging the drug release can be a suitable approach to overcome the challenges related to topical ophthalmic administration of drugs especially the ones prescribed for chronic ailments. The sustained delivery of the drug would reduce the required frequency of administration which could extremely improve patient compliance and feeling of well-being. This study aimed to develop nanofibrous inserts for sustained ophthalmic delivery of timolol maleate (TIM) for the treatment of glaucoma.

Polycaprolactone-based nanofibers containing TIM were prepared using pure polycaprolactone or a blend of it with cellulose acetate or Eudragit RL100 polymers by the electrospinning method. Following the preparation, polymeric inserts were evaluated for morphological and physicochemical properties. The in vitro drug release was assessed and the in vivo efficacy of a selected insert in decreasing the intraocular pressure (IOP) was also evaluated in the equine eyes.

Prepared nanofibers indicated diameter ranged between 122-174 nm. The formulations showed suitable physicochemical properties and stability for ophthalmic administration. In vitro release study showed prolonged release of drug during more than 3 days. In vivo evaluation revealed that the prepared insert is non-irritant and non-toxic to the equine eyes while having suitable efficacy in decreasing the IOP during 6 days.

 Prepared TIM inserts indicated a higher efficacy than commercial TIM eye drop in lowering IOP during a prolonged period. Thus, these formulations can be considered suitable for enhancing patient compliance by reducing the frequency of administration in the treatment of glaucoma.

Color blindness (color vision deficiency) is a disorder that impairs the true perception of colors. Using the information in this study, appropriate policy can be made to identify high-risk groups, as well as educational policies for families to perform more effective genetic diagnosis methods. This study aims to examine the prevalence of color blindness in Iranian students through a meta-analysis. Articles related to color blindness published between January 1990 and December 2020 were searched in Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science (WoS), Science Direct, Embase, SID, MagIran, IranDoc, Medline, and Google Scholar databases. The keywords used were based on medical subject topics (MeSH Terms) and, after careful review, articles were selected according to varied sections of Participants, Exposure, Comparison, and Outcomes (PECO). Participants: students; Exposure: students with color blindness were examined; Comparison: Students from multiple provinces and regions of Iran were surveyed for color blindness; Outcomes: the pooled prevalence of color blindness in Iranian students reported from different provinces. The prevalence of color blindness in Iranian students was 3.8% (95% CI: 2.7–5.4%). The pooled prevalence of color blindness in Iranian male and female students was 4.7% (95% CI: 3.5–6.4%) and 0.7% (95% CI: 0.3–1.3%), respectively. The pooled prevalence of red–green color blindness (Tritan) was 41.7% (95% CI: 18.9–68.8%). The pooled prevalence of red color blindness (Protan) was 13.9% (95% CI: 7.8–23.8%), and the pooled prevalence of green color blindness (Deutan) based on meta-analysis was 45.3% (95% CI: 29–62.7%). Due to the high prevalence of color blindness in students, especially male students, it is necessary to be screened for through genetic tests in couples before having children.

To investigate the pattern of ocular involvement in Behcet’s disease (BD) with predictors of patients’ final state of vision.

This historical cohort encompassed the clinical records of 200 patients diagnosed according to the International Criteria for BD (ICBD), over a period of 17 years between 2004 and 2021.

The prevalence of Behcet’s uveitis (BU) was more common in females and patients in the fourth decade of life. Ninety-five patients (47.5%) had evidence of ocular involvement in the initial ophthalmologic evaluation, and 171 patients (85.5%) manifested evidence of BU during the follow-up visits of which bilateral non-granulomatous panuveitis was the most common anatomical pattern of involvement (32.9%) followed by posterior (27.6%), anterior (26.5%), and intermediate (13.8%) uveitis. The prevalent accompanying signs were oral aphthous (67%), skin lesions (29%), and genital ulcers (19.5%). Cystoid macular edema (CME) was the most frequent ocular complication (62%), followed by cataract (57.5%) and epiretinal membranes (ERM) (36.5%). Univariate analysis showed the following determinants: male gender, younger age at onset, panuveitis, posterior uveitis, retinal vasculitis, and longer duration of uveitis as poorer visual prognostic factors of the disease. Multivariate analysis demonstrated a higher chance of poor visual prognosis of BD in patients with panuveitis, posterior uveitis, retinal vasculitis, and longer duration of uveitis.

This cohort study demonstrated an overview on epidemiological patterns of BU along with the visual prognostic factors in Iranian patients.

Horner's syndrome is a rare disease with three clinical signs of ptosis, miosis and unilateral anhydrosis of the face and neck. In this syndrome, Hodgkin's lymphoma should be considered as one of the first life-threatening symptoms. Horner's syndrome, or oculosympathetic paralysis, is a rare disease first reported by Mr. Horner (1883-1886) with three clinical signs including unilateral ptosis, miosis, and Unilateral and unilateral anhidrosis of the face and neck were described, all due to involvement of the oculosympathetic pathway (1). Horner syndrome results from an interruption of the oculosympathetic pathway. This condition does not usually cause vision problems or other significant symptoms, but is important as a warning sign that the oculosympathetic pathway has been interrupted, potentially with serious and even life-threatening processes. The oculosympathetic pathway has a long and circuitous course, beginning in the brain and traveling down the spinal cord to exit in the chest, then up the neck and into the orbit. The sympathetic nervous supply is responsible for the dilation of the pupil (mydriasis). When disrupted, parasympathetic supply is uninhibited, and constriction of the pupil (miosis) ensues. The reaction of the pupils to light and accommodation is normal as those systems do not depend on sympathetic nerve supply. Therefore, this syndrome with unimpressive clinical findings and insignificant symptoms may be a sign of serious pathology in the head, chest, or neck. Patients with Horner syndrome present with a slightly droopy upper lid and a smaller pupil on the affected side; less commonly, there is a deficiency of sweating over the brow or face on the affected side (2). Horner syndrome is almost always diagnosed clinically, though pharmacological testing can be used to confirm the diagnosis. Imaging modalities such as PET, CT and MRI are important components of work‐up for patients presenting with acquired Horner syndrome (3). Factors that cause this disease include trauma, brain tumors, migraines, cluster headaches, hyperthyroidism, and lung cancer(4). Because Horner syndrome sometimes occurs as the first sign of a life-threatening condition, a thorough post-diagnosis systemic examination is necessary to follow up on patients for signs and symptoms (5). This is a clonal malignancy (dependent on asexual reproduction) of the lymphatic system with different clinical manifestations that can be treated in the early and advanced stages (6). Horner's syndrome is an unusual initial manifestation of Hodgkin's disease, and, in this case, it was due to oculosympathetic damage from mediastinal compression (7, 8). The aim of this study was to report and introduce a patient referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Kermanshah with a diagnosis of Horner's syndrome and Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The patient is a 30-year-old man with left ptosis about 50 days before seeing an ophthalmologist. The patient also complains of sweating on the right side of the body and lack of sweating on the left side of the upper torso and face. No previous history of specific illness or family history of the symptoms were reported. In ocular examinations, the corrected vision of both eyes is equal to 10/10, normal eye movements, mild ptosis in the range of 2 mm in the left eye, meiosis of the left eye and the development of Anisocoria (an ocular complication in which the pupil of one eye from Size differs from other pupils.) Was reported more clearly in low light. According to the mentioned symptoms, Horner syndrome was presented to the patient. A complete and appropriate examination is sufficient for the initial diagnosis of this syndrome, but in order to confirm the diagnosis and determine the location of the injury, naphazoline drops were used. In this way, this drop was poured in both eyes of the patient and after a few minutes, the ptosis disappeared and the amount of anisocoria decreased. At present, after starting treatment, in addition to improving anisocoria, the amount of ptosis has decreased and the patient is satisfied with continuing treatment. On systemic examination, several large lymph nodes on the left side of the neck were touched in the area of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM). Ultrasound of this area also showed a lymphadenopathy measuring 15 x 25 mm deep in the SCM muscle in the subclavian space (Subclavian triangle) and a lymph node measuring 10 x 15 mm in the upper region of the supraclavicular space with involvement of the upper mediastinum. MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) of the brain and spinal cord was also reported to be normal. An X-ray of the chest showed umbilical cord lymphadenopathy. Finally, after biopsy of Hodgkin's lymph node, the diagnosis of cervical lymph node was made.

In the present report, after examining the patient, Horner syndrome was clinically confirmed and after Hodgkin's lymph node biopsy, the diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma was made. Involvement was also seen in the SCM muscle area and the upper mediastinum. In line with the results of the present study in a study by Simon et al. Conducted in 1985 on a 22-year-old woman with Horner syndrome, a mass in the mediastinum was observed on a patient's chest X-ray and evaluated. Further leads to the diagnosis of Hodgkin. This study suggests that Horner's syndrome is an unusual early manifestation of Hodgkin's disease caused by damage to the oculosympathetic pathway due to pressure on the mediastinum(9). A 1980 study by Maloney et al. On 450 patients with Horner's syndrome reported less than 3 percent of Hodgkin's lymphoma(7). Another study by Giles et al. In 1958 on 216 patients with Horner syndrome identified three cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma(6). Also, a 1940 study by Goldman et al., Conducted on 212 patients with Hodgkin's disease, reported no cases of Horner's syndrome(10). Kaplan also stated in his 1980 study that no cases of the syndrome were observed in patients with Hodgkin's disease(11). However, in the present report, MRI of the patient's brain and spinal cord was normal and no complication was observed. However, Williams et al., In their 1959 study of the complications of leukemia and lymphoma, found that neurological complications occur in 15% of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma(12). Jackson et al., Who studied Hodgkin's disease in 1945, also noted complications such as brain and spinal cord injuries, polyneuropathy, mononorrhea, and myopathy(13).According to the results of this study, with the confirmation of Hodgkin's lymphoma in the patient, it is necessary that in addition to the entire oculosympathetic pathway, the patient be examined for neoplasms, including Hodgkin's lymphoma, due to its high potential. Also, due to the involvement of the upper mediastinum, it can be stated that Horner's syndrome is an unusual initial manifestation of Hodgkin's disease, which is caused by damage to the oculosympathetic pathway due to pressure on the mediastinum. In general, according to the results of the present study and similar studies among the early life-threatening symptoms, although Hodgkin's disease has been reported as uncommon, but due to the high potential for its treatment, it should be Patients with this syndrome should be considered. Also, with the publication of the present study, we can point to the sensitivity among ophthalmologists in identifying certain cases of malignancies associated with Horner's syndrome, which can lead to their early detection and better prognosis. Unfortunately, the lack of similar Iranian and foreign studies and the unavailability of the full text of some other articles for comparison prevented a comprehensive decision on the results.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal injection (IVI) of bevacizumab (IVB) versus aflibercept (IVA) in premature infants with type 1 prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in the posterior Zone II.

The study was a multicenter, historical cohort of premature newborns diagnosed with type 1 prethreshold ROP in the posterior Zone II, treated with IVB or IVA. Demographic features, complications, and treatment outcomes were then compared between the two groups.

Seventy‑six patients received aflibercept (the IVA group), and 210 received bevacizumab (the IVB group). The two groups were not significantly different in terms of postmenstrual age (PMA) at the time of ROP diagnosis and other known risk factors for ROP development and progression. All eyes in both the groups responded to IVI; however, recurrence was observed in four eyes (1.9%) in the IVB group and 12 (15.8%) in the IVA group (P = 0.001). Recurrence occurred 9.1 ± 0.83 (5–12) and 15.5 ± 0.98 (12–18) weeks after primary treatment in the IVB and IVA groups, respectively (P = 0.000). In the IVA group, retinal vascularization was completed in 38.18 ± 6.5 weeks (21–48) after IVI, and it happened in 23.86 ± 9.3 weeks (13–60) in the IVB group (P = 0.009). Furthermore, vascularization reached the peripheral retina in 73.25 ± 6.5 (56–84) and 58.75 ± 8.8 (45–93) weeks, PMA in the IVA and IVB groups, respectively (P = 0.03). No acute postoperative complications were observed in the treated eyes in either group.

This study shows that both IVA and IVB are effective and well tolerated for the management of type 1 prethreshold ROP in the posterior Zone II; however, IVA needs a significantly longer time for vascularization completion and has a higher recurrence rate compared with IVB.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of information asymmetry on the relationship between monopoly costs of public disclosure and information quality factors in companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange. The spatial scope of this research was the companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange and the time domain was between 1393 and 1397. In this study, the exclusive costs of general disclosure of independent variables and the quality factors of information of dependent variables were considered. The present study is in the category of applied research. In terms of nature, it is in the category of descriptive research and in terms of method, it is in the category of correlational research. In this study, library method was used to collect data and information. In the data section, the research was done by collecting data from sample companies by referring to financial statements, explanatory notes and the stock exchange monthly. Based on the systematic elimination method, 120 companies were selected as a statistical sample. Descriptive and inferential statistics have been used to describe and summarize the collected data. In order to analyze the data, first the variance heterogeneity pre-tests, F-Limer test, Hausman test and Jark-Bra test were used and then multivariate regression test was used to confirm and reject the research hypotheses (Eviews software). The results showed the negative impact of exclusive disclosure costs on information quality factors, including the comparability of financial statements; Information efficiency, positive management tone and quality of environmental information are stronger in terms of information asymmetry.

the Persian Gulf ecosystem is facing degradation, so further degradation must be prevented. The present study was conducted to assess the environmental pollution risk potential of the coastal ecosystem due to heavy metal content in desalination plant’s effluent.

In this cross-sectional study, the researchers selected five stations in the west of Bandar Abbas beach, located at the outlet of desalination effluent canals to the shore, and two stations in the east shore (without effluent discharge) as case and control stations, respectively. The researchers collected 51 Sediment samples and measured heavy metal concentration, using an AA spectrophotometer, and assessed the potential ecological risk. They used SPSS software and the T-test to statistically analyze data.

The concentration means for sediments in case and control stations samples were: 40.63±16.79, 96.64±30.60, 159.74±50.65, 109.22±17.09, 205.35±86.96 mg.kg-1 and 40.15±17.21, 79.16±28.26, 152.43±90.07, 101.82±43.55, and 193.82±112.90 mg.kg-1, respectively for (Pb, Cu, Ni, Cd, and Zn). The ecological risk and Pollution Load Index were (31.72, 35.95, 3.30, 36.96, and 45.61) and (0.62, 0.63, 0.71, 0.68, and 0.9), respectively for metals mentioned order. Individual potential risk for all stations showed a low-risk degree.

Although the heavy metals accumulated in coastal sediments due to the discharge of desalination plant effluents, severe ecological and environmental damage has not occurred. Therefore, there is still time to prevent an environmental catastrophe on the shores receiving desalination effluents. Therefore, it is recommended to all responsible persons to take the necessary measures to monitor and control the plan and reduce the discharge of effluents to the shores.

Usher syndrome is a heterogeneous genetic disease that is the most common cause of hereditary blindness–deafness. This syndrome is the most prevalent syndrome associated with retinitis pigmentosa. A 25‑year‑old man referred to us with hearing loss and vision diminution since childhood which has gradually worsened. Visual acuity of both eyes was 20/100. Slit lamp examination of the left eye revealed endothelial stellate keratic precipitates, mild anterior chamber reaction, iris heterochromia, ectropion of uvea, and mild posterior subcapsular cataract. There were also no crypts and abnormal vessels in the left eye iris. His intraocular pressure was 14 mmHg in the right eye and 18 mmHg in the left one. Funduscopy demonstrated waxy pallor optic nerve, marked arterial narrowing, and retinal bone spicule pigment formation in both eyes. We report for the first time a very rare association between Usher syndrome, Fuchs heterochromic uveitis (FHU), and ectropion uvea. To our knowledge, no association has been reported between ectropion uvea, FHU, and Usher syndrome.

Mucopolysaccharidosis VI is an inherited autosomal recessive disease that causes glycosaminoglycan deposition in different tissues due to arylsulfatase deficiency that can cause various systemic and ocular manifestations. The disease is rarely reported. This paper presents the case of a five-year-old girl with low vision and discusses ocular manifestations of Mucopolysaccharidosis VI. The patient was referred to Kermanshah Imam Khomeini Hospital due to low vision. On examination, she was found with multiple systemic and ocular symptoms. Laboratory results showed arylsulfatase B deficiency. According to the clinical manifestations and laboratory results, she was diagnosed with mucopolysaccharidosis type VI and treated with Naglazyme. Awareness of ocular symptoms in these patients could be of great help in making proper diagnosis and choosing the best treatment that could improve the quality of life in these patients.

The presence of toxic heavy metals in cereal grains like rice is one of the main human and environmental health concerns. Their importance is because of their non-biodegradability nature, high half-time, and bioaccumulation ability in the human body. Among heavy metals, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) are most critical, so their concentrations in rice were evaluated in this study. 

In this study, the concentration of Cd and Pb was determined by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometer (GF-AAS), while the concentration of As was measured by atomic spectrum poll after acid digestion of the milled rice samples. The probabilistic health risk assessment of Cd, As, and Pb through consumption of different types of rice including local rice and two types imported from India (IND) and Pakistan (PAK), was estimated for the adults in Hormozgan province using Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) technique. 

It was revealed that the concentrations of all Cd, As, and Pb in the local rice samples were lower than those in the PAK and IND samples. The average concentration of As, Pb, and Cd in the rice samples were 0.045, 0.057, and 0.022 mg/kg, respectively. The estimated total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) for this population was lower than 1, representing negligible non-carcinogenic risk through rice consumption. However, total carcinogenic risk (TCR) via As intake showed a considerable carcinogenic risk (TCR > 1E-4) for this population. 

According to the results, it is necessary to perform continuous monitoring for concentration of Cd, As, and Pb especially in the imported rice samples.

Wolfram syndrome or DIDMOAD is a rare autosomal recessive neurological disorder characterized by clinical symptoms of diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, hearing loss, and optic nerve atrophy. Due to the rarity of the disease, the rare prevalence of this disease, and the importance of identifying and patient recognition, this study aimed at introducing a patient with Wolfram syndrome, who was a candidate for vitrectomy with the diagnosis of retinal tachycardia.

A 19-year-old girl with Wolfram with symptoms of diabetes mellitus, optic nerve and hearing atrophy, advanced Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy, and Tractional Retinal Detachment was referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital for Vitrectomy.

Since optic nerve atrophy in the reported patient appears earlier than other symptoms, the referral of young diabetic patients for ophthalmologic examinations to early diagnosis is suggested. According to the results of this study, children with parents who have a family relationship and a family history of diabetes are more likely to develop Wolfram syndrome. So, it is necessary to pay attention to this issue in premarital counseling. Also, it is recommended that authorities make appropriate arrangements for screening susceptible patients for this syndrome.

Purification of proteins is an essential step to determining their function and structure. Proteins are often combined with a tag to facilitate purification prosses. The aim of this study was to design and construct pET32b(+)Rh vector based on pET-32b(+) expression vector to simplifiy purification of recombinant proteins only by Nicle column. The primer design was performed taking into account the targeted changes. Using PCR reaction, the desired fragment was amplified and cloned in pET-32b(+) vector. The recombinant vector was transformed into Escherichia coli. After screening by colony-PCR and restriction enzyme analysis, sequencing was performed. Vector function study, was performed by investigating the expression and purification of a toxic peptide IOD-NaTx with disulfide bonds in pET32b(+)Rh vector. In new pET32b(+)Rh vector, the histidine tag site at the C- terminal of thioredoxin was removed and the N-terminal of the recombinant peptide would not change much if BamHI is used for cloning . To evaluate the function of the vector, the soluble expression of a toxic peptide was successfully determined and two-step purification using IMAC method resulted into the pure recombinant peptide. In this study, the simple and fast method of cloning was used to construct a modified expression vector using a commercial plasmid. The new pET32b(+)Rh vector can be used to express complex peptides with disulfide bonds fused with thioredoxin. The recombinant protein could be purified simply without need to costly methods such as HPLC and FPLC or other chromatography columns.

Shahab al-Din Yahya Suhrawardi, also known as “Sheikhe Ishragh”, (1154–1191) or the founder of the Iranian school of illumination, is an Iranian philosopher who has widely deployed semantic functions of narrative mode in his mystical works. Going beyond the conventional and traditional approach of narrating allegorical anecdotes, he started to create his own narratives to present his intended philosophical and mystical concepts to the audience in form of “plotted” narratives. Fi Haqiqat al-'Ishq  (On the Reality of Love) treatise also known as Munis ol-Oshaq (Companion of Lovers) is one of Suhrawardi’s distinguished and valuable Persian writings in the field of narrative. In this work, he describes the reality of life and the beginning and destination of existence from his own philosophical-mystical view. This treatise—which is an interpretation of the Qur’anic story of the Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) and based on Suhrawardi’s illuminationist view—is presented as an independent narrative more detailed than his other narrative-based writings and with a more elaborate plot. Unlike other dialogic narratives, Fi Haqiqat al-'Ishq is an action-based one that has been considered one of the most elaborate and structured narratives of Suhrawardi.   The story begins with the first step of creation, which is the creation of the intellect by Noor ol Anvar (Light of Lights). From the outset, the intellect is endowed with three features: “beauty”, “love” and “sorrow”; all three are brothers and from the same origin. However, despite the devotion of “love” and “sorrow” to “beauty”, who is the eldest brother, “beauty” inhabits Joseph’s body, reaches the peak of independence and autonomy, and spurns the brothers. Yearning for reunion with “beauty”, the two brothers set out on a journey of austerity so that in companion with Jacob and Zulaikha they could set the ground for reaching their goal. Examining the structure and plot of this narrative based on structuralist theories reveals multifaceted dimensions of its hidden semantic layers regarding Suhrawardi’s illuminationist doctrine. Since Fi Haqiqat al-'Ishq is centered on the binary oppositions between the “material” and “spirit” as well as “light” and “darkness”, the actantial model proposed by Algirdas J. Greimas (1917- 1992), the famous French semiotician, was applied to achieve a kind of detailed analysis of the narrative. The model is built on binary oppositions by which different structural elements of a narrative, including the plot and the characters in both deep and surface levels, are analyzed. In Suhrawardi’s illuminationist philosophy, which emphasizes on the originality of “light”, there is a basic binary opposition between “light” and “darkness” and consequently between “heaven” and “earth”, “abstract” and “material” as well as “ignorance” and “knowledge”. In Fi Haqiqat al-'Ishq, which briefly reviews the great event of creation alongside the spiritual journey of soul to the source of life in two parts, this thinking system dominates; a manifestation of which is the binary opposition between “beauty” and “love”. As it continues, the independence of “beauty” and its separation from “love” kindle the “love’s” passion for reunion, which turns him into a traveler (Salik) in the second half of the story.   Studying the actions and the arrangement of the narrative actors, based on the actantial model, proves that the main action in the first half of the story is “creation” which has been performed by different actors throughout successive stages. The result of this action is the creation of the heavens and the earth as well as endowing the earth and earthly creatures with the grace of creation. The main action in the second half of the narrative is the “spiritual journey”; which is known as a way for the earth inhabitants to return to the spiritual and heavenly origin of life. In this regard, the transformation of the actors both on the side of the earth and the heaven (transformation of “beauty”, “love” and “sorrow” to the earthly characters of Joseph, Zulaikha and Jacob) displays the extension of the great event of “creation” in both heavenly and earthly realms (both deep and surface levels). The contrasting plot of this narrative demonstrates the confrontation of the two main substances of “light” and “darkness” (spirit and material) and briefly explains the descending arc of life (the extension of the grace of creation from Light of Lights that resulted in the creation of the heavens and the earth) and the ascending arc (spiritual journey of human being to reconnect to the source of light). This structure adjusts to theory of opposition and actantial model of Greimas. Examination of this narrative based on the mentioned model shows that the two basic actants (“beauty” and “love”) in deep level accompanied with the two actors in the surface level (Joseph and Zulaikha) are the different manifestations of the light and darkness who have been integrated in the process of the creation. Considering the existing opposition in the deep structure of the story, which causes the separation between the brothers, the most important sequence in this narrative appears to be disjunctive.    Fi Haqiqat al-'Ishq is a brief literary and artistic expression of the author’s philosophical mindset. In this work, Suhrawardi briefly reviews the great event of the creation and the origin of the life to initially remind the reader of the spiritual history of the world and to show another dimension of the truth in the second half of the narrative; the fact that we, human beings, are prisoners in the dark well of the mundane world and the only way of liberation and reconnection to the source of “Light of Lights” is awareness and setting out on a journey of austerity. In this story, “love” is the actant who firstly made this hard journey but in fact the actors of this action (spiritual journey) are all devoted travelers who have stepped on this path to reach the eternal truth and “Light of Lights”.

One of the main pillars of sustainable development is health and wellness which is an integral part of improving the quality of life. Lack of hygiene facilities and human resources and their inadequate distribution in urban and rural areas are major problems in providing health services in third world countries. The main and important reasons for inequalities in the distribution of health sector resources include inappropriate and poor budget allocation to the health sector, inadequate and long-term planning. This study was conducted to determine the degree of development of Abadan, Khorramshahr and Shadegan cities in terms of health indicators using numerical taxonomy model.

This descriptive study was conducted in 3 cities of Abadan, Khorramshahr and Shadegan in Khuzestan province in 2016. The data collection tool was a checklist containing information needed to calculate 15 health indices that were collected from Abadan Medical School Deputy of Health. The numerical taxonomy of these cities was evaluated in terms of degree of development of health indicators.

According to the values of the upper and lower limits of homogeneity distance and the values of the shortest distance between cities, it was found that all cities (regions) were homogeneous and were in the same group. Finally, the results showed that Abadan is considered to be developed (0.47), Shadegan under developed (0.78) and Khorramshahr undeveloped (0.81).

Regarding the results obtained for improving the health status and managing the health sector, it is suggested that a comprehensive development-based program to be developed for reducing gaps and inequalities in terms of health indicators and to pay specific attention to the main development indicators of health care system based on population in each region.