The Effect of Happiness Educational Program of Fordyce on the Sense of Coherence and Psychological Well-being of Adolescents with a Parent with Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Having a parent with cancer is one of the risk factors for adolescents, which makes them face many psychological problems. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of Happiness Educational Program of Fordyce on the sense of coherence and psychological well-being of adolescents who have a parent with cancer. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 92 adolescents whose diagnosed parents have referred to the oncology ward of Shahid Rajaei Hospital in Yasuj, from June to September 2021, were selected through the convenience sampling method; however, they were randomly assigned to one of the two groups of the intervention or control. The number of sessions in the intervention group was 6, each consisting of 60 minutes and performed one day a week for 6 weeks. In addition to the demographic information form, the Antonovsky's Sense of Coherence Questionnaire-13 and the Ryff's scale of Psychological Well-being-18 were used before and immediately after the intervention. Data were analyzed through SPSS software, version 21, using statistical tests of Chi-square, t-test, Fisher's exact, Mann-Whitney, and Wilcoxon. Results: After the intervention, statistically significant differences were observed in the median scores of the sense of coherence (P<0.001) and psychological well-being (P<0.001) between the two groups of intervention and control. Conclusion: Although the Happiness Educational Program of Fordyce could improve the sense of coherence and psychological well-being of adolescents who have a parent with cancer, more investigations are recommended to be conducted.Trial Registration Number: IRCT20210331050795N1.

Comparison of enjoyment and energy expenditure of exergame with and without blood flow restriction in men and women.

This study compared the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) on intensity and perceived enjoyment during an exergame. Fourteen healthy young participants engaged in a boxing exergame for 20 min, with or without BFR, across two sessions. Perceived enjoyment levels were assessed using the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale. Heart rate was monitored, and energy expenditure (EE) during exercise was calculated. A mixed model analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to evaluate differences in EE and enjoyment between exergame conditions (with and without BFR) as well as the interaction effects of these protocols with gender. Although not statistically significant, perceived enjoyment decreased with BFR inclusion for both genders. No significant differences were observed between men and women for both protocols. Regarding EE, there was no significant difference between the two groups (with and without BFR). However, a significant main effect of gender was found, with men exhibiting higher EE values in both protocols compared to women. In conclusion, exergames incorporating BFR impact perceptual responses, particularly perceived enjoyment. Furthermore, significant gender differences in EE were found, with men displaying higher values.

Acute Hemodynamic, Metabolic, and Hormonal Responses to a Boxing Exergame with and without Blood Flow Restriction in Non-Athlete Young Individuals.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare acute hemodynamic, metabolic (glucose and blood lactate concentrations), hormonal (growth hormone and normetanephrine), heart rate variability (HRV), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) responses before and after bouts of a boxing exergame with and without blood flow restriction (BFR) in non-athlete young individuals. METHODS: Fourteen participants (age: 30 ± 10 y; BMI: 21 ± 3 kg.m-2) participated in two sessions of a 20 min boxing exergame. During week one, the participants were randomly divided into two groups and played against one another under normal (n = 7) and BFR (n = 7) conditions. Over the next exercise session, participants were then reallocated to the opposite condition (normal vs. BFR) for data collection. Hemodynamic, metabolic, HRV, and hormonal parameters were measured before and immediately after the exercise protocols. RESULTS: Playing exergame led to a significant increase in hemodynamic variables (except for diastolic blood pressure) regardless of BFR condition with no between-group differences. Regarding HRV, significant reductions in total power (TP) and low-frequency (LF) waves were identified in the non-BFR group (p < 0.0001) compared with the BFR group. Conversely, a significant increase in very LF (VLF) waves was noted for the BFR group (p = 0.050), compared with the non-BFR group. Significant increases were observed in serum concentrations of growth hormone, normetanephrine, and blood lactate concentration from pre- to post-exercise under both conditions (p ≤ 0.05), with no significant differences between the groups. Moreover, no statistically significant changes were observed in glucose levels. RPE responses were significantly greater (p ≤ 0.05) in the BFR group compared with the non-BFR group throughout the exercise session. CONCLUSIONS: We observed similar hemodynamic, hormonal, and metabolic responses after an acute boxing exergame session in young individuals, whether conducted with or without BFR. However, notable differences were observed in certain HRV markers and RPE. Specifically, the inclusion of BFR resulted in an elevation of VLF and a heightened perceived exertion. These findings suggest that BFR may alter cardiac autonomic and perceptual responses during exergaming. Further research is warranted to understand the long-term implications and potential benefits of incorporating BFR into exergaming routines.

High-Protein Diets during either Resistance or Concurrent Training Have No Detrimental Effect on Bone Parameters in Resistance-Trained Males.

BACKGROUND: The effects of combining resistance training (RT) and concurrent training (CT; resistance + endurance training) with varied protein doses on bone measures remain poorly understood. Hence, we conducted a comparison of the impacts of two high-protein diets (1.6 or 3.2 g kg-1 d-1) over 16 weeks in resistance-trained males, either with CT or RT alone. METHODS: A total of forty-eight males, all of whom were resistance-trained, had the following demographics: 26.6 ± 6 years, body mass index: 25.6 ± 2.9 kg m-2 administered either 3.2 g kg-1 d-1 protein (CT2; n = 12; RT2; n = 12) or 1.6 g kg-1 d-1 protein (CT1; n = 12; RT1; n = 12) during 16 weeks (four sessions·w-1). Bone parameters were assessed pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: There was no significant interaction between the intervention group and time for the legs, arms, ribs, or pelvis area BMC and BMD (p > 0.05). For the BMD of the pelvis and the BMC of the right ribs, however, there were significant time effects noted (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a significant interaction between the intervention group and time in the lumbar and thoracic spines, with a particular time effect noted for the thoracic spine region (p < 0.05). The regional differences in skeletal responses to the intervention are highlighted by these data. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that the intake of two high-protein diets combined with RT and CT during 16 weeks had no adverse effects on bone tissue parameters. While these findings indicate that protein intake between 2 and 3 times the current RDI does not promote bone demineralization when consumed in conjunction with exercise, future studies investigating the long-term effects of chronic high protein intake on bone tissue health are warranted.

The effectiveness of neurofeedback on the management of academic performance in students with academic failure: experimental research.

The present study aimed to study the impact of neurofeedback on the academic performance of nursing students with academic failure. Methods: This study was an experimental one with a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population of this research was the nursing students of the Faculty of Nursing, Tehran University of Medical Sciences University of Medical Sciences. The sample of this study consisted of 60 individuals chosen by a simple random sampling method and two experiment groups (N=30) and a control group (N=30) were replaced by accident. Neurofeedback was an advanced Raven test and a researcher-made questionnaire for data collection. Thereafter, the experimental group was treated with neurofeedback for 7-10 weeks and 20 50-min therapeutic sessions as the experimental condition. In the first 130 s, the baseline was determined for the individual, and during the session, the baseline was practiced. Each session consisted of six exercises, each lasting 7 min. Results: The results of the covariance analysis showed that students who had an educational drop and were trained in neurofeedback sessions showed a significant increase in the next half (P<0.05) compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that neurofeedback is an effective method for managing the academic performance of nursing students with academic failure.

Novel Molecular Targets and Mechanisms for Neuroprotective Modulation in Neurodegenerative Disorders.

BACKGROUND: Neuronal death underlies the symptoms of several human neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and their precise pathophysiology have not yet been elucidated. According to various studies, the prohibition is the best therapy with neuroprotective approaches, which are advanced and safe methods. METHODS: This review summarizes some of the already-known and newly emerged neuroprotective targets and strategies and their experimental effects have also been reported. Accordingly, literature was studied from 2000 to 2021, and appropriate articles were searched in Google Scholar and Scopus with the keywords given in the keywords section of the current review. RESULTS: Lewy bodies are the histopathologic characteristics of neurodegenerative disorders and are protein-rich intracellular deposits in which Alpha-synuclein is its major protein. Alphasynuclein's toxic potential provides a compelling rationale for therapeutic strategies aimed at decreasing its burden in neuronal cells through numerous pathways, including ubiquitin-proteasome system and autophagy-lysosome pathway, proteolytic breakdown via cathepsin D, kallikrein-6 (neurosin), calpain-1 or MMP9, heat shock proteins, and proteolysis targeting chimera which consists of a target protein-ligand and an E3 ubiquitin ligase (E3) followed by target protein ubiquitination (PROTACs). Other targets that have been noticed recently are the mutant huntingtin, tau proteins and glycogen synthase kinase 3ß; their accumulation proceeds extensive neuronal damage and up to the minute approach such as proteolysis targeting chimera promotes its degradation in cells. Various studies demonstrated that Mendelian gene mutations can result in neurodegenerative diseases. An additional target that has gained much interest is epigenetics, such as mutation, phosphodiesterase, RNA binding proteins and Nuclear respiratory factor 1. CONCLUSION: The novel molecular targets and new strategies compiled and introduced here can be used by scientists to design and discover more efficient small molecule drugs against neurodegenerative diseases. And also, the genes in which their mutations can lead to the α-synuclein aggregation or accumulation have been discussed and considered a valuable information on epigenetics in dementia.

Effect of dietary roasted and autoclaved full-fat soybean on the performance of laying hens and egg quality traits.

CONTEXT: Full fat soybean (FFSB) can be used in poultry diets as a source of fat and protein, without extra cost for oil extraction; however, raw FFSB contains several anti-nutritional factors. AIMS: Investigating the effects of replacing dietary soybean meal (SBM) with processed (roasted or autoclaved) FFSB on the performance of laying hens and egg quality traits. METHODS: A total of 324 Bovans White strain laying hens were randomly selected and distributed in 54 replicate cages. Based on a completely randomized design with a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement of treatments plus a control group, nine diets in which SBM were replaced with 25%, 50%, 75% and 100℅ roasted or autoclaved FFSB, with six replicates (with six hens each), were evaluated during an 8-week trial period (60-68 weeks). KEY RESULTS: Significantly increased feed intake (FI) was observed in hens fed diets including autoclaved FFSB (p < 0.05). The interactions between SBM replacement level and processing on feed conversion ratio (FCR), egg production (EP) and egg mass (EM) were significant (p < 0.01). Hens fed the diet with 100% roasted FFSB instead of SBM showed poor performance in terms of FCR, EP and EM during the experimental period. The main effect of SBM-replacing level on Haugh unit was significant (p < 0.05). The main effect of processing on shell thickness was significant (p < 0.05), so autoclaved FFSB caused higher eggshell thickness than control and roasted FFSB. CONCLUSIONS: Replacement of dietary SBM with autoclaved FFSB can improve laying hens' performance in terms of FCR, EP, EM and eggshell quality and yolk colour. IMPLICATIONS: The use of autoclaved FFSB to replace commercial SBM and its oil in the diet of laying hens is recommended. Feed factories can formulate the diets of laying hens with autoclaved FFSB without extra cost due to oil extraction soybeans.

The Effect of Breastfeeding Versus Sensorial Saturation on Infants' Behavioral Responses of Pain following Pentavalent Vaccination on 4 and 6 Month Old Infants: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Study.

Background: Pain is the fifth vital sign and its proper management in infants is important. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of breastfeeding versus sensorial saturation on infants' behavioral responses of pain following Pentavalent vaccination on 4 and 6-month old babies. Methods: This single blind randomized controlled clinical trial study was conducted on Shahid Dastgheib Health center in Yasuj, from May to September 2016. Eligible infants (N=180) were selected using convenience sampling method. Then, using block randomization method, we assigned the participants to one of the three groups of Breastfeeding (N=60), Sensorial saturation (N=60), and Control (N=60). The infants' behavioral responses of pain were measured using the Modified Behavioral Pain Scale (MBPS) and duration of crying following Pentavalent vaccination. Data were analyzed through SPSS software 22 using Chi square, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis, and Dunn 's multiple comparison tests. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The results of the study showed that the MBPS mean scores for breast feeding, sensorial saturation, and control groups in 4-month old infants were 6.60±1.60, 5.40±1.30 and 8.90±0.40, and those of 6-month old ones were 7.20±1.10, 6.10±0.90 and 9±0.50, respectively. Also, both the breastfeeding and the sensorial saturation groups scored significantly lower in behavioral responses of pain and crying duration on both 4 and 6-month old infants compared to the control group (P<0.05). Sensorial saturation group significantly scored lower in behavioral responses of pain and crying duration on 4 and 6 month old infants than the breastfeeding group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Both breastfeeding and sensorial saturation could diminish the infants' behavioral responses of pain following Pentavalent vaccination; however, sensorial saturation was more effective than breastfeeding. Trail Registration Number: IRCT2016051527916N1.

The use of laser-based diagnostics for the rapid identification of blood borne viruses in human plasma samples.

AIMS: To demonstrate the use of a laser-based method of detection as a potential diagnostic test for the rapid identification of blood borne viruses in human plasma. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, using light emissions from laser sparks on plasma samples, the successful differentiation of both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in both residual de-identified plasma samples and plasma samples spiked to clinically relevant levels with each virus were demonstrated using plasma from more than 20 individuals spanning six different blood types (O+, O-, A+, A-, B+, B-). CONCLUSIONS: These experiments demonstrate that mathematical analysis of spectral data from laser sparks can provide accurate results within minutes. This capability was demonstrated using both spiked laboratory plasma samples and clinical plasma samples collected from infected and uninfected individuals. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: There is an ongoing need to rapidly detect viral infections and to screen for multiple viral infections. A laser-based approach can achieve sensitive, multiplex detection with minimal sample preparation and provide results within minutes. These properties along with the flexibility to add new agent detection by adjusting the detection programming make it a promising tool for clinical diagnosis. The potential for a laser-based approach has been previously demonstrated using pathogens spiked into human blood to clinically relevant levels. This study demonstrates this same ability to detect infections in clinical and laboratory spiked plasma samples. The ability to differentiate between plasma samples from infected and uninfected donors and determine the virus type using a laser-based diagnostic has not been previously demonstrated. Furthermore, this study is the first demonstration of the capability to differentiate viral infections in clinical plasma samples whereas previously published work used laboratory samples spiked with a virus or dealt with the detection of cancer in clinical plasma samples.

Pore constrictions in intervessel pit membranes provide a mechanistic explanation for xylem embolism resistance in angiosperms.

Embolism spreading in angiosperm xylem occurs via mesoporous pit membranes between vessels. Here, we investigate how the size of pore constrictions in pit membranes is related to pit membrane thickness and embolism resistance. Pit membranes were modelled as multiple layers to investigate how pit membrane thickness and the number of intervessel pits per vessel determine pore constriction sizes, the probability of encountering large pores, and embolism resistance. These estimations were complemented by measurements of pit membrane thickness, embolism resistance, and number of intervessel pits per vessel in stem xylem (n = 31, 31 and 20 species, respectively). The modelled constriction sizes in pit membranes decreased with increasing membrane thickness, explaining the measured relationship between pit membrane thickness and embolism resistance. The number of pits per vessel affected constriction size and embolism resistance much less than pit membrane thickness. Moreover, a strong relationship between modelled and measured embolism resistance was observed. Pore constrictions provide a mechanistic explanation for why pit membrane thickness determines embolism resistance, which suggests that hydraulic safety can be uncoupled from hydraulic efficiency. Although embolism spreading remains puzzling and encompasses more than pore constriction sizes, angiosperms are unlikely to have leaky pit membranes, which enables tensile transport of water.

MicroRNA-218 competes with differentiation media in the induction of osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cell by regulating ß-catenin inhibitors.

Osteoporosis, a systemic skeletal disorder specified by low bone mass, is associated with bone fragility and the raised risk of fractures. Activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway has been directly demonstrated as a prominent biological event in the prevention of osteoporosis. Recently, critical roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) were further revealed in Wnt/ß-catenin signaling activation and thereby contributing to the development and maintenance of the human skeleton. In this study, we investigated whether miR-218 can significantly promote the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells in conditional media by regulating ß-catenin signaling inhibitors. The pre-miRNA nucleotide sequence of miR-218 was cloned into the pEGP-miR vector. Next, human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) were isolated, characterized, and transfected using pEGP-miR-218.Subsequently, the osteogenic potential of AD-MSCs was investigated in different treated groups using alkaline phosphatase (ALP)activity, calcium mineral deposition, and the expression of osteogenesis-related genes. Finally, negative regulators of Wnt signaling targeted by miR-218 were bioinformatically predicted. Our results indicated a significant increase in the ALP activity, mineralization, and osteogenesis-related genes expression in the AD-MSCs transfected with pEGP-miR-218. Also, the bioinformatic surveys and gene expression results showed that adenomatosis polyposis coli (APC) and glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3-ß) were downregulated in the transfected AD-MSCs in both differential and conditional media. This study provided evidence that miR-218 can promote osteogenic differentiation of AD-MSCs even in conditional media. Therefore, our findings suggest miR-218 as a putative novel therapeutic candidate in the context of osteoporosis and other bone metabolism-related diseases.

The Lived Experience of Nurses Caring for Patients with COVID-19 in Iran: A Phenomenological Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of nurses caring for patients with COVID-19 in Iran. METHODS: This study was a descriptive phenomenology. Sampling was purposefully performed, and participants were selected in terms of the inclusion criteria. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using the WhatsApp mobile messaging application. Colaizzi's method was used to analyse the data. The criteria introduced by Lincoln and Guba were used for the study rigour. RESULTS: The data were obtained from 12 nurses caring for patients with COVID-19. The mean age of the participants was 29.41 years (SD = 2.72) with a mean work experience of 6.75 years (SD = 2.52). Three main themes and six subthemes were identified: mental condition (subthemes included "anxiety and stress" and "fear"), emotional condition (subthemes included "suffering and affliction" and "waiting for death"), and care context (subthemes included "turmoil" and "lack of support and equipment"). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that nurses working in the wards and care centres designated for patients with COVID-19 are experiencing mental and emotional distress and are working in inadequate professional conditions.

Effect of 8-Week Aerobic Walking Program on Sexual Function in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

INTRODUCTION: Sexual dysfunction is a little-addressed condition in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Aerobic exercises, including walking, can help alleviate this dysfunction. This study aimed to determine the effect of an 8-week aerobic walking program on sexual function ine patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODOLOGY: This clinical trial was conducted on 51 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. At first, patients were selected through nonprobability sampling. They were then allocated into intervention and control groups using block randomization. The walking intervention was performed based on the frequency-intensity-time-type principle forg 8 consecutive weeks. Rosen's Female Sexual Function Index was used for data collection before, immediately after, and 4 weeks after the intervention. Data collected were analyzed with SPSS 22 using descriptive and inferential statistics and 95% CI. FINDINGS: Mean sexual function scores before, after, and 4 weeks after intervention were 17.66±4, 22.88±4.7, and 24.39±5.1 in the intervention group and 17.60±4.24, 17.27±4.66, and 17.39±4.39 in the control group, respectively. Test results showed a significant intergroup difference in mean sexual function score (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on our results, an 8-week aerobic walking program is recommended as an effective way to improve sexual function in women with rheumatoid arthritis.

The Effect of Using Olive Oil and Fish Oil Prophylactic Dressings on Heel Pressure Injury Development in Critically Ill Patients.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Prevention of pressure injuries in patients hospitalized in intensive care units is significantly important. Therefore, in the present study, the effect of using olive oil and fish oil prophylactic dressings on the development of heel pressure injuries was investigated. METHODS: The present study was a clinical trial conducted in the intensive care unit of Shahid Beheshti Hospital, in Yasuj. Fifty patients, who were at moderate to high risk of pressure injuries development, were randomly divided into two groups based on the mean score of the Braden scale. In one group, patients' heels were dressed using olive oil prophylactic dressing, and in the other group, patients' heels were dressed using fish oil prophylactic dressing. The dressings were changed 3 times a day. Collected data were then analyzed using SPSS v16. RESULTS: No significant difference was determined in demographic variables among the two groups (p<0.05). In terms of the development of heel pressure injuries, none of the patients in the olive oil and fish oil groups had pressure injuries. CONCLUSION: There were no statistically significant differences in either treatment group related to heel pressure injuries outcomes during the 7 days observed in the study. Additionally, both dressings had the same effects. Further studies are recommended in this regard.

Impact of olive oil and honey on healing of diabetic foot: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: This study aimed 1) to examine the impact of honey on diabetic foot; 2) to examine the effect of olive oil on diabetic foot; and 3) to compare the impact of honey and olive oil in the healing of diabetic foot. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 45 patients took part. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups. In the honey group, the wound was dressed using gauzes with honey daily for 1 month. In the olive oil group, the wound was dressed using gauzes with olive oil (4 mL) daily for 1 month. Patients in the control group received usual dressing. Wounds were assessed before and after intervention using the Wagner scoring system and the checklist of diabetic foot healing (where a higher score indicates better wound healing). Results: Demographic characteristics of patients in the three groups were similar. Mean scores of tissue around the wound, wound grade, wound drainage, and wound healing were similar before intervention in all three groups. After intervention, means score of tissue around the wound, wound grade, wound drainage, and wound healing were significantly higher in patients in the honey and olive oil groups compared to patients in the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study reveal that honey is as effective as olive oil in the treatment of diabetic foot. Given the few studies on this topic, further investigation is needed.

Hydrogeochemical controls on arsenic mobility in an arid inland basin, Southeast of Iran: The role of alkaline conditions and salt water intrusion.

Elevated inorganic arsenic concentrations in groundwater has become a major public and environmental health concern in different parts of the world. Currently, As-contaminated groundwater issue in many countries and regions is a major topic for publications at global level. However, there are many regions worldwide where the problem has still not been resolved or fully understood due to inadequate hydrogeochemical investigations. Hence, this study evaluates for the first time the hydrogeochemical behavior of the arid and previously unexplored inland basin of Sirjan Plain, south east (SE) Iran, in order to assess the controlling factors which influence arsenic (As) mobility and its distribution through groundwater resources. Total inorganic arsenic concentration was measured using inductive-coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Arsenic content in groundwater of this region ranged between 2.4 and 545.8 µg/L (mean value: 86.6 µg/L) and 50% of the samples exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline value of 10 µg/L in drinking water. Groundwater was mainly of Na-Cl type and alkaline due to silicate weathering, ion exchange and evaporation in arid conditions. Elevated As concentrations were generally observed under weakly alkaline to alkaline conditions (pH > 7.4). Multivariate statistical analysis including cluster analysis and bi-plot grouped As with pH and HCO3 and demonstrated that the secondary minerals including oxyhydroxides of Fe are the main source of As in groundwater in this region. The desorption of As from these mineral phases occurs under alkaline conditions in oxidizing arid environments thereby leading to high levels of As in groundwater. Moreover, evaporation, ion exchange and saltwater intrusion were the secondary processes accelerating As release and its mobility in groundwater. Based on the results of this study, desorption of As from metal oxy-hydroxides surfaces under alkaline conditions, evaporation and intrusion of As-rich saline water are considered to be the major factors causing As enrichment in arid inland basins such as those in southeast Iran. This study proposes the regular monitoring and proper groundwater management practices to mitigate high levels of arsenic in groundwater and related drinking water wells of Sirjan Plain.

Baghdadite nanoparticle-coated poly l-lactic acid (PLLA) ceramics scaffold improved osteogenic differentiation of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Bone repair has been a new approach in regenerative medicine especially by application of stem cells. Discovering a suitable combination of scaffolds to stimulate osteogenesis is one of the major concerns in this issue. Porous polymeric scaffolds such as poly l-lactic acid (PLLA) have been attracted a lot of attention because of their biodegradability. In the present study, we have been coated Baghdadite on the plasma-treated surface of PLLA and evaluated osteogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) were cultured on PLLA and PLLA-Baghdadite scaffolds, and cell properties were characterized by MTT assay, scanning electron microscope, and FTIR analysis. Then, osteogenic differentiation potential of AD-MSCs has been investigated, such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, calcium mineral deposition, and the expression of bone-related genes (RUNX2, ALP, and OCN). The results have been indicated that calcium content and ALP activity of cells cultured on PLLA-Baghdadite nanofibers were higher than that of tissue culture polystyrenes (TCPs). Gene expression analysis showed that PLLA-Baghdadite had effectively induced osteogenesis-related genes. Taken together, these results suggest that porous nanofiber scaffolds which coated with Baghdadite can enhance osteogenic differentiation of AD-MSC, and PLLA-Baghdadite can be used as a new biodegradable scaffold for bone regeneration. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 1284-1293, 2019.

Testing the plant pneumatic method to estimate xylem embolism resistance in stems of temperate trees.

Methods to estimate xylem embolism resistance generally rely on hydraulic measurements, which can be far from straightforward. Recently, a pneumatic method based on air flow measurements of terminal branch ends was proposed to construct vulnerability curves by linking the amount of air extracted from a branch with the degree of embolism. We applied this novel technique for 10 temperate tree species, including six diffuse, two ring-porous and two gymnosperm species, and compared the pneumatic curves with hydraulic ones obtained from either the flow-centrifuge or the hydraulic-bench dehydration method. We found that the pneumatic method provides a good estimate of the degree of xylem embolism for all angiosperm species. The xylem pressure at 50% and 88% loss of hydraulic conductivity (i.e., Ψ50 and Ψ88) based on the methods applied showed a strongly significant correlation for all eight angiosperms. However, the pneumatic method showed significantly reduced Ψ50 values for the two conifers. Our findings suggest that the pneumatic method could provide a fast and accurate approach for angiosperms due to its convenience and feasibility, at least within the range of embolism resistances covered by our samples.

Leaf gas exchange performance and the lethal water potential of five European species during drought.

Establishing physiological thresholds to drought-induced mortality in a range of plant species is crucial in understanding how plants respond to severe drought. Here, five common European tree species were selected (Acer campestre L., Acer pseudoplatanus L., Carpinus betulus L., Corylus avellana L. and Fraxinus excelsior L.) to study their hydraulic thresholds to mortality. Photosynthetic parameters during desiccation and the recovery of leaf gas exchange after rewatering were measured. Stem vulnerability curves and leaf pressure-volume curves were investigated to understand the hydraulic coordination of stem and leaf tissue traits. Stem and root samples from well-watered and severely drought-stressed plants of two species were observed using transmission electron microscopy to visualize mortality of cambial cells. The lethal water potential (ψlethal) correlated with stem P99 (i.e., the xylem water potential at 99% loss of hydraulic conductivity, PLC). However, several plants that were stressed beyond the water potential at 100% PLC showed complete recovery during the next spring, which suggests that the ψlethal values were underestimated. Moreover, we observed a 1 : 1 relationship between the xylem water potential at the onset of embolism and stomatal closure, confirming hydraulic coordination between leaf and stem tissues. Finally, ultrastructural changes in the cytoplasm of cambium tissue and mortality of cambial cells are proposed to provide an alternative approach to investigate the point of no return associated with plant death.

Resources of learning through hidden curriculum: Iranian nursing students' perspective.

BACKGROUND: Students tend to internalize and perpetuate the patterns of behavior and the values surrounding them. Review of literature showed that there are several student learning sources through the hidden curriculum, but they have not been identified in nursing yet. Hence, the purpose of this study is explanation of learning resources in the hidden curriculum in the view of baccalaureate nursing students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This qualitative study was carried out in 2012 with the participation of 32 baccalaureate nursing students in Nursing and Midwifery College of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran by purposeful sampling strategies. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews and continued to the level of data saturation and themes' emergence. Data analysis was performed through inductive content analysis method. RESULT: "Instructor as the unique learning element," "various learning resources in the clinical setting," and "instructive nature of the education environment" were extracted as the main themes, each of which incorporated some categories. CONCLUSION: Baccalaureate undergraduate nursing students learnt the hidden curriculum by the resources such as instructors, resources existing in the clinical setting, and the university campus. Therefore, more research is recommended for the identification of other resources. In order to promote positive messages and reduce the negative messages of the hidden curricula running at academic and clinical settings, nursing educators and nurses need to learn more about this issue in the nursing profession.