t. ebrahimi

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizure (PNES) is a disease characterized by the alternations in the brain network. The current study aimed to assess the global and local brain network changes in various brain regions for the patients with PNES using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

The resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) data of 32 adults (ranged from 22-61 years; mean: 33.1±7.2), including 16 healthy controls and 16 PNES patients, were obtained. Several standard global network parameters, including small-worldness, average clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, and global efficiency, were investigated. Nodal characteristics, such as the degree of centrality (DC), betweenness centrality (BC), nodal efficiency (NF), nodal local efficiency (NLF), nodal clustering coefficient (NCC), and shortest route, were also determined independently for each node (region) to represent local changes in the brain network. The local and global parameters’ values were compared between healthy individuals and PNES patients using Mann-Whitney statistical test.

There was no significant difference among the global parameter values obtained from PNES patients and healthy individuals (P˃0.05). However, many local brain network parameters showed statistically significant differences in the functional connectivity networks (P˂0.05), including attentional, sensorimotor, default mode, executive control networks, and subcortical area.

Although global brain network parameters calculated from fMRI images were similar between healthy and PNES participants, many local brain network parameters showed statistically significant differences. Our findings support PNES patients' hypoactivity in the regions associated with awareness and motor control as well as their hyperactivity in the areas associated with emotion and motion control.

Aquatic organisms are currently used as bio-indicators to determine the water quality of rivers in many countries. In this study, the results of Karun Macroinvertebrate Tolerance Index (KMTI) as a bioindicator and Revised Iranian Water Quality Index (RIWQI) as a physicochemical index were compared to evaluate water quality. For this purpose, water and benthic macroinvertebrate samples were collected from seven stations in four seasons in 2019. According to the RIWQI and KMTI index values, water quality at the stations was evaluated between 37.21 to 75.98 and 2.9 to 6.21, respectively, falling into poor, medium, and good categories. In this study, KMTI index had a significant correlation with RIWQI index (p<0.01). Also, both indices had a significant correlation with total dissolved solids (TDS), oxygen saturation (DO%), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), nitrate (NO3), phosphate (PO4), turbidity (NTU), and fecal coliform (p<0.01). The values of KMTI index declined when these water quality parameters increased, which can be caused as a result of the parameters' impact on decline in sensitive species. The obtained results from KMTI and RIWQI indices demonstrated that tourism activities, restaurants, industries, and residential areas imposed a surplus of environmental burdens in some parts of Jajrud River. Therefore, river basin management must be implemented to rehabilitate the impacts due to human manipulation, improve the water quality, reduce public health risks, and proceed toward sustainable development.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea), is one of the most susceptible host crops to Aspergillus flavus invasion. In order to find of relation between chemical compositions of peanut with its resistance to Aspergillus flavus, four different peanut cultivars namely Goli, Mahalli, India and China were collected from Golestan province. After measurment of chemical compositions, for each 20 g antisepticised peanut, 2×106 cfu∕ml Aspergillus flavus spore were added and were placed in the incubator for 8 day at 26 °C. The values for the chemical composition of peanuts are as follow: moisture: 3.33-3.56%, protein: 20.02-24.28%, lipids: 44.77-55.26%, oleic acid: 43/16-59/33%, linoleic acid: 25/19- 36/84% Ash: 1.98-2.43% and sugar: 3.56-4.53%. Goli and Mahalli had the least whereas India and China had the greatest susceptibility to the A. flavus in the end of 8th of incubation, respectively. Furthermore, it was observed that Goli cultivar had least whereas India cultivar had greatest rate of aflatoxin B1 production, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the fungus growth rate and chemical composition of peanut, with the increase in resistance, protein and oleic acid content increased and fat and linoleic acid content decreased significantly. Content of Ash and sugar did not show positive relationship with the resistance to Aspergillus flavus.