Study of innovation capacity of fisheries companies in the covid-19 pandemic crisis.

Many countries have encountered coronavirus pandemic crisis around the world. Through the outbreak of this disease in Iran, preventive plans have been implemented to break the chain of the disease infection. These measures in the economic sector have affected supply, production and demand, and to some extent have led to the partial or complete closure of some businesses and occupations. In the context, it seems that innovative an "innovation capacity" infrastructure measures and turning to innovation in this crisis can be a strategy to moderate and optimize the situation. This study tries to design concepts of the fisheries firms' innovation capacity model in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. After collecting data, they were analyzed using SPSS and PLS SMART software, which were performed in two parts: descriptive statistics and analytical or inferential statistics. A novel research model is presented to examine the impact of factors such as innovation management, social, cultural, human and organizational capital, crisis strategies, government actions in crisis situations, and marketing strategies in crisis situations, as well as, recognition and application of marketing advantages in crisis situations, which offers a re-analysis of innovation capacity. According to the results, among the variables played a significant role on the level of innovation capacity in epidemic conditions, innovation management (p> 0.000; ß = 0.593), and recognition and application of marketing advantages (p> 0.049; ß = 0.209) were the most significant, independent variables affecting the innovation capacity, which explained its variations.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cells for refractory Crohn's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Autologous hematopoietic stem cells are gaining ground as an effective and safe treatment for treating severe refractory Crohn's disease (CD). Autologous hematopoietic stem cell therapy (AHSCT) induces resetting of the immune system by de novo regeneration of T-cell repertoire and repopulation of epithelial cells by bone-marrow derived cells to help patients achieve clinical and endoscopic remission. Areas covered: Herein, the authors discuss the use of AHSCT in treating patients with CD. Improvements in disease activity have been seen in patients with severe autoimmune disease and patients with severe CD who underwent AHSCT for a concomitant malignant hematological disease. Clinical and endoscopic remission has been achieved in patients treated with AHSCT for CD. The only randomized trial published to date, the ASTIC Trial, did not support further use of AHSCT to treat CD. Yet, critics of this trial have deemed AHSCT as a promising treatment for severe refractory CD. Expert opinion: Even with the promising evidence presented for HSCT for refractory CD, protocols need to be refined through the collaboration of GI and hemato-oncology professionals. The goal is to incorporate safe AHSCT and restore tolerance by delivering an effective immune 'cease fire' as a treatment option for severe refractory CD.

Infiltration time and imprint shape of a sessile droplet imbibing porous medium.

The infiltration of a sessile droplet into a homogeneous porous medium for a constant droplet base radius case is solved numerically, where the porous medium is represented as a capillary network consisting of pores and throats. For a homogeneous medium, the network is built of the spherical pores of constant radius, and the cylindrical throats of constant radius and height. Having such defined network, the droplet imbibes porous medium in a single-phase flow for which the free interface in porous medium is smooth, and the liquid phase permeability and the capillary pressure are constant. Using the numerical solution we carry out the parametric study in which: (i) liquid viscosity and surface tension, (ii) droplet volume and base radius, and (iii) porous medium porosity and permeability are varied. The droplet infiltration time, and the imprint shape that is given with two spheroid half-axes are calculated. The dimensionless analysis is utilized to correlate the droplet infiltration parameters from which master curves for the droplet infiltration time and the droplet imprint shape are obtained. Using the infiltration time correlation, both numerical and experimental results show a linear behavior.

Preparation of hydroxylated polyethylene surfaces.

The surfaces of high-density or ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylenes were hydroxylated using a two-step process. The wetting and wear properties of the untreated (virgin) and surface hydroxylated polyethylenes were compared. The introduction of hydroxyl groups provided an increase in surface hydrophilicity resulting in reduced wear. Hydrophilicity was analyzed by optical analysis of water contact angle. Wear was determined by weight loss under conditions of a reciprocating pin-on-plate apparatus with the panels immersed in water or calf serum. These results suggest that hydroxylation of polyethylene friction-bearing orthopedic surfaces may lead to a longer joint life.

Current situation of used household batteries in Iran and appropriate management policies.

Used household batteries are considered as hazardous wastes in many countries due to the potential environmental and human health risks associated with the heavy metals present in batteries. This article presents the current situation of waste household batteries and policies in Iran. Iran with more than 70 million people is a developing country where latest technologies like cell phones and laptops are in widespread use and battery consumption increases accordingly. The household battery demand in Iran has rapidly grown since 2001 and it is expected to increase more quickly in next years, due to increasing technological development. Based on the available data, more than 9800 metric tons of household batteries were imported into Iran in recent decade, with the market value of about US$ 42.6 million. At present, there is no program available in Iran regarding to collection, separation, recycling or safe disposal of used batteries. Therefore, almost all of the spent household are discarded into municipal solid waste (MSW) and sent to sanitary landfills. Appropriate policies to meet safe disposal of household batteries in Iran is also discussed in this investigation.

Formation of peroxisomes: present and past.

Eukaryotic cells contain functionally distinct, membrane enclosed compartments called organelles. Here we like to address two questions concerning this architectural lay out. How did this membrane complexity arise during evolution and how is this collection of organelles maintained in multiplying cells to ensure that new cells retain a complete set of them. We will try to address these questions with peroxisomes as a focal point of interest.

Evaluation of deltamethrin-impregnated bed nets and curtains for control of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in a hyperendemic area of Iran.

In the study carried out in the rural district of Borkhar (Isfahan, Iran) from March 2003 to March 2004 efficacy of deltamethrin impregnated bed nets (IBs) and curtains (ICs), polyester mesh size 156 holes/ inch2, (25 holes/cm2) were compared to that of non-impregnated bed nets (NIBs) and curtains (NICs), in relation to zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) control. Deltamethrin impregnated bed nets and curtains at 25 mg a.i./m2 were distributed among 168 households in one of the villages and NIBs plus NICs among the same number of households in another village. In the third village similar numbers of households were used as control. Health education messages were disseminated to ensure the population's compliance with the proper use of bed nets and curtains in the two intervention areas. Entomological surveys using sticky paper traps were carried out in ten households in each village for the collection of sand flies from indoors and outdoors, every two weeks to assess the impact of insecticide impregnated bed nets and curtains on the density of Phlebotomus papatasi. Deltamethrin susceptibility tests and also bioassay tests were carried out on this species by WHO standard method. Case findings were done by house-to-house visits once a season and all the inhabitants of the selected households in each village were examined. The results showed that IBs and ICs can provide a definite personal protection against sand fly bites and interrupted the transmission of ZCL in the intervention village. NIBs and NICs did not provide any protection against the disease. There was no significant difference in monthly density of P. papatasi in indoors and outdoors among the villages (P > 0.05). Susceptibility tests showed that this species was susceptible to deltamethrin in the field population in the area. Bioassays confirmed that the treated nets with deltamethrin remain effective for more than three months and was an excellent mean of individual protection. It is recommended that IBs and ICs can be used widely in the control of ZCL in other similar foci such as hyperendemic and mesoendemic areas of Iran.