Breast-feeding Continuation in South-Eastern of Iran: the Associated Factors.

BACKGROUND: Breast-feeding not only promotes health in an infancy period, but also leads to human vigor and safety at varied life periods viz. adolescence, youth, middle-age, or even adulthood. AIM: The present study was aimed to determine the factors affecting the breast-feeding continuation effectively for a selected region of Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 523 women having less than two year old babies from the selected counties covered by the Zahedan University of Medical Sciences (Khash, Saravan, Sarbaz, Chabahar, Zahedan, Nikshahr, Iranshahr, and Konark) using the stratified sampling method. The Data was completed for the target group by using the check-list which included 3 parts: demographic data, case history of pregnancy, childbirth and mother's statue, and previous records of the newborn up to two years. The obtained data were fed into SPSS software, and all parametric and non-parametric statistical methods were used to analyze the data, especially appropriate to the data type. RESULTS: The results showed that the most important factors associated with breast-feeding discontinuation were infant's illness (only up to six months), mother's consciousness, parental support, practical breastfeeding training to the mother, mother's educational level, child's gender, place of birth, pregnancies' interval, mother's ethnicity and residence and the statue of taking (using) narcotics. The data also indicated that on maternal reasons the main factor which impelled most of the mothers to discontinue their breast-feeding up to six months or even before two years was milk shortage in mother's breasts. Moreover, the main child- related factor that compelled most of the mothers for non-continuance of their breast-feeding up to six months or even before two years was child's crying and discomfort. CONCLUSIONS: It can be safely concluded that promotion of parental education, neglecting child's gender as far as cultural context and preference of a son is considered, observance of pregnancy interval for more than three years, non-smoking in nursing mothers, practical training of breast-feeding to mothers besides conductance of educative programs via maternity hospitals and health centers to educate parents about the importance of breast-feeding and benefits of spouse's support can be considered as the influential factors in continuation of breast-feeding.

Uncertainty and spatial analysis in wheat yield prediction based on robust inclusive multiple models.

Reliable prediction of wheat yield ahead of harvest is a critical challenge for decision-makers along the supply chain. Predicting wheat yield is a real challenge for better agriculture and food security management. Modeling wheat yield is complex and challenging, so robust tools are needed. The main aim of this study is to predict wheat yield using an advanced ensemble model. A multilayer perceptron model (MLP) was combined with optimization algorithms to determine MLP parameters as the first step in the study. Several optimization algorithms were used as optimizers, including Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Honey Badger Algorithms (HBA), Sine-Cosine Algorithms (SCA), and Shark Algorithms (SA). Meteorological data were inserted into models. Next, the outputs of optimized MLP models were incorporated into an inclusive multiple MLP model (IMM). A new hybrid gamma test was used to determine the most appropriate input combination. A hybrid gamma test was created by coupling the HBA with GT. This paper introduces a robust IMM model, develops an MLP model using optimization algorithms, develops a new hybrid gamma test, uses Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) to analyze uncertainty, and presents a spatial map of wheat yield prediction. Based on the Gamma Test analysis, mean air temperature (Ta), wind speed (WS), relative humidity (RH), evapotranspiration (ET), and precipitation (P) were the most important input parameters for reliable and accurate winter wheat yield predictions. At the testing level, the IMM model decreased the mean absolute error (MAE) of the MLP-HBA, MLP-SCA, MLP-SA, MLP-PSO, and MLP models by 47%, 52%, 55%, 58%, and 61%, respectively. In the study, the uncertainty of models based on input data was significantly lower than that of the model parameters. In addition, the GLUE analysis revealed that the wheat yield predictions were more stable and confident by considering the ensemble IMM technique. The pattern of root mean square error (RMSE) maps demonstrated that higher error produces in the northeast of Urmia Lake. The developed framework provides insight into rainfed yield responses to weather conditions and is simple and inexpensive. Accurate and reliable wheat yield prediction is essential for agricultural monitoring and food policy analysis.

Itaconic Acid as A Differential Transcription Regulator of Apoptosis and Autophagy Pathways Genes: A Rat Adipose Mesenchymal Stem Cells Model.

OBJECTIVE: Itaconate, a novel regulatory immunometabolite, is synthesized by inflammatory macrophage. It acts as an anti-inflammatory mediator and regulates several metabolic and signaling pathways particularly Nrf2 pathway. The immunometabolites can affect the stemness potency, differentiation ability and viability of stem cells, but little is known about the critical function of Itaconate on the stem cell fate. The objective of the present study was to determine the regulatory effects of Itaconic acid on the cell viability and transcription of apoptosis and autophagy pathways genes in the rat adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, the ADMSCs were incubated with 125 µM and 250 µM dimethyl itaconate (DMI) for 24 hours or 48 hours. The expression of apoptosis pathway genes (Bax, Bcl2, Caspase 3, Fas, Fadd and Caspase 8) and autophagy pathway genes (Atg12, Atg5, Beclin, Lc3b and P62) were determined using real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Using the ELISA method, cellular level of phospho-NRF2 protein was measured. RESULTS: The results indicated that DMI increased the expression of NRF2 protein, altered the expression of some apoptosis genes (Fadd, Bax and Bcl2), and changed the expression of some autophagy related genes (Lc3b, Becline and P62) in ADMSCs. DMI had no obvious effect on the transcription of caspases enzymes. CONCLUSION: Because autophagy activation and apoptosis suppression can protect stem cells against environmental stress, it seems Itaconate can affect the functions and viability of ADMSCs via converse regulation of these pathways.

Natural Compounds: A Hopeful Promise as an Antibiofilm Agent Against Candida Species.

The biofilm communities of Candida are resistant to various antifungal treatments. The ability of Candida to form biofilms on abiotic and biotic surfaces is considered one of the most important virulence factors of these fungi. Extracellular DNA and exopolysaccharides can lower the antifungal penetration to the deeper layers of the biofilms, which is a serious concern supported by the emergence of azole-resistant isolates and Candida strains with decreased antifungal susceptibility. Since the biofilms' resistance to common antifungal drugs has become more widespread in recent years, more investigations should be performed to develop novel, inexpensive, non-toxic, and effective treatment approaches for controlling biofilm-associated infections. Scientists have used various natural compounds for inhibiting and degrading Candida biofilms. Curcumin, cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, carvacrol, thymol, terpinen-4-ol, linalool, geraniol, cineole, saponin, camphor, borneol, camphene, carnosol, citronellol, coumarin, epigallocatechin gallate, eucalyptol, limonene, menthol, piperine, saponin, α-terpineol, ß-pinene, and citral are the major natural compounds that have been used widely for the inhibition and destruction of Candida biofilms. These compounds suppress not only fungal adhesion and biofilm formation but also destroy mature biofilm communities of Candida. Additionally, these natural compounds interact with various cellular processes of Candida, such as ABC-transported mediated drug transport, cell cycle progression, mitochondrial activity, and ergosterol, chitin, and glucan biosynthesis. The use of various drug delivery platforms can enhance the antibiofilm efficacy of natural compounds. Therefore, these drug delivery platforms should be considered as potential candidates for coating catheters and other medical material surfaces. A future goal will be to develop natural compounds as antibiofilm agents that can be used to treat infections by multi-drug-resistant Candida biofilms. Since exact interactions of natural compounds and biofilm structures have not been elucidated, further in vitro toxicology and animal experiments are required. In this article, we have discussed various aspects of natural compound usage for inhibition and destruction of Candida biofilms, along with the methods and procedures that have been used for improving the efficacy of these compounds.

Nano/microencapsulation of plant biocontrol agents by chitosan, alginate, and other important biopolymers as a novel strategy for alleviating plant biotic stresses.

Biological biocides have the potential to reduce plant biotic stresses and boost development, but they tend to be unstable and degrade quickly. BCAs inhibit plant diseases and enhance crop productivity while being eco-friendly. Encapsulation research has increased in recent decades in response to the growing need for BCAs. These formulations can address the difficulties of free-form formulations. They can improve the efficacy of BCAs by prolonging their shelf life and offering the controlled release of biological components. Using a novel approach, they can be a potential platform for controlling biotic stressors, especially plant pathogens. Chitosan and alginate are two important biopolymers with great potential in enclosing BCAs. These can also be used alone for encapsulation, but their application in composite form eliminates the disadvantages of using them alone. However, several other biopolymers have significant roles in formulating BCAs, such as gums, gelatin, starch, and pectin. Given the amazing potential of these new formulations, this comprehensive review highlights more recent developments about encapsulating BCAs based on nano and micro-materials and their appliances in reducing plant biotic stressors. These prospects might provide the foundation for future opportunities to expand the efficacy and application BCAs by formulation technologies to combat plant pathogens.

Validation and Normalization of Grasha-Riechmann Teaching Style Inventory in Faculty Members of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences.

INTRODUCTION: Considering the importance of teaching styles and their impact on promoting higher education, and the lack of a valid and reliable tool in universities of medical sciences for measuring this concept, as well as no instruments normalized for Faculty of Medical Sciences, the aims of this study were to 1) evaluate and normalize Grasha-Riechmann Teaching Style Inventory and 2) determine the teaching style of the faculty members of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences during 2018-2019. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a methodological study. In order to carry out this study, Grasha-Riechmann Teaching Style Inventory was translated and culturally adopted. To measure validity, reliability, and normalize the questionnaire, it was distributed among the study population composed of 361 faculty members (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor) who were taught theoretical and practical courses in Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran, during the academic year 2018-2019. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Cronbach's alpha using SPSS version 16 were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The results of data analysis showed that of the 361 participants, 212 were men and 149 were women. The mean age of the participants was 42.52 ± 7.72 years and their average work experience was 10.12 ± 7.61 years. Content validity was calculated using content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR) for each item, and it was reported 97.4 and 68.5, respectively. Cronbach's alpha was used to determine the internal consistency, and its value was 95%. The construct validity of the Grasha-Riechmann Teaching Style Inventory was assessed using CFA by EQS version 6.1. The value of root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) was 0.075 with the 90% confidence interval, and the GFI value was 0.74. The mean scores and standard deviations (SD) of teaching styles were 5.61 ± 0.61 for Expert teaching style, 5.23 ± 0.72 for formal authority teaching style, 5.39 ± 0.66 for personal model teaching style, 5.43±0.71 for facilitator teaching style, and 4.99 ± 0.82 for delegator teaching style. Our results suggested dominance of the expert (88.6%) and delegator (79.8%) teaching styles as well as the modest use of personal model (65.9%), formal authority (59.3%), and facilitator (55.7%) teaching styles among the faculty members of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. DISCUSSION: The results of the current study will be effective in promoting education level and increasing students' satisfaction with the academic courses. Researchers and those interested in university medical education and development centers can benefit from the results of this study. For the first time, the psychometric test (normalizing and validating) of Grasha-Riechmann Teaching Style Inventory has been carried out at Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. Also, this questionnaire has been applicable to determine teaching styles of faculty members. CONCLUSION: Overall, the results of the present study showed that the Grasha-Riechmann teaching Style Inventory had a good internal consistency and can be used as a valid tool for evaluating teachers' teaching style.