فهرست مطالب morteza sadeghi

Melatonin and L-carnitine are free radical scavengers with antiapoptotic and antioxidant properties that improve oocyte development.

This study aimed to find the possible effect of combining 2 antioxidant agents of melatonin and L-carnitine on oocyte morphology, maturation, apoptosis, and expression of bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP-15) and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9) genes in a mice model. 

To overstimulation, 60 female NMRI mice were injected intraperitoneally using mare serum gonadotropin. On day 2 post-injection, 70 cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected from each mouse. The collected oocytes randomly were then divided into 4 groups including, the control, melatonin, L-carnitine, melatonin + L-carnitine groups. The morphology and maturation rate of the oocytes was evaluated using a light microscope. Apoptosis was identified by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay and the expression of BMP-15 and growth and differentiation factor GDF-9 genes was also evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Oocyte diameter significantly was increased in combination treatment of L-carnitine and melatonin compared to other groups (p < 0.05). L-carnitine group showed the highest mean percentage of oocyte cytoplasmic pattern. Results of the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling indicated that the lowest apoptosis rate belonged to the melatonin + L-carnitine group. Moreover, the combination groups showed the highest number of oocytes and maturation rate. The BMP-15 and GDF-9 genes were significantly upregulated in all treatment groups compared to the control group.

Our results suggested a combination of melatonin + L-carnitine administration as a more effective choice for in vitro promotion of oocyte maturation.

In an effort to find effective medicines for the treatment of diabetes, the efficient mechanisms and lack of side effects of herbal medicines have made them the main candidates for regulating blood sugar levels and reducing the side effects of the disease. This search will be based on the discovery of digestive enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) inhibitors from natural sources and the ways to reduce high blood sugar levels. These enzymes are at the forefront of increasing blood glucose levels because they facilitate the digestion of food polysaccharides into smaller monosaccharide in small intestinal wall. Currently, the arsenal of inhibitors approved for this purpose is limited to veglibose, miglitol and acarbose. Despite the ability to reduce glucose absorption their widespread clinical use is limited due to the occurrence of gastrointestinal ailments. Given the efficacy of various natural compounds in alleviating diabetes symptoms, this review aims to assess the inhibitory potential and mode of action of some phytochemicals on intestinal digestive enzymes. Such an exploration seeks to unveil novel and healthful anti-diabetic agents based on the inhibition of digestive enzymes.

Lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the world, early detection of lung cancer is one of the biggest challenges in treating this disease and can be very effective in saving patients. Considering the role of microRNAs in the development and progression of lung cancer, the effective factors in the expression and function of microRNAs, including the polymorphisms in the genes of microRNAs, can be used as biomarkers for the early diagnosis of lung cancer. This study aims to investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs4919510) of miR608 and (rs6505162) of miR-423 with the risk of lung cancer.

In this case-control study, genotypic analysis of rs6505162 miR-423 and rs4919510 miR-608 polymorphisms was performed on two groups including 110 lung cancer patients and 120 healthy individuals by PCR-RFLP method. After receiving the consent form from the patients, 5 ml of venous blood was collected from each of the study subjects, and the genomic DNA of each person was extracted using the salt precipitation method, the quality of the DNA was measured by absorption spectroscopy, and then all the samples were PCR And by using restriction enzyme digestion by Rsa I and PVUII enzymes, the genotype was determined for both polymorphisms. In the last step, the results of enzyme digestion were checked by electrophoresis on 2% agarose gel, to confirm the RFLP results from sequencing. Random samples were used. Statistical analysis of data was done with SPSS software.

In the investigation of mrs6505162 polymorphism in miR-423, the frequency distribution of CC, CA, and AA genotypes in lung cancer patients was 42.7, 34.5, and 22.7, respectively, and in the control group, 30.8, 54.2, 15, respectively which did not have a significant difference. The genotype CA compared to CC and also CA compared to CC+AA was related to the reduction of lung cancer (P=0.009, 95% CI: 0.256-0.829,
OR=0.460; P=0.003, 95% CI: 0.262-0.760, OR=0.447) which can indicate the protective role of this genotype. In the investigation of rs4919510 polymorphism in miR608, the frequency of allele G was 16.4% in the patient group and 20.4% in the control group, and the frequency of allele C was 83.6% in the patient group and 79.6% in the control group. This allele frequency was not statistically significant with a probability ratio of 0.763 and a confidence interval of 1.227-0.474 (P=0.263). No significant difference was observed between the group of cancer patients and control subjects. Codominant, Dominant, Over dominant, and Recessive, statistically no significant difference was observed.

According to our findings in miR-423, the CA genotype in rs6505162 polymorphism can have a protective role in lung cancer, but rs4919510 polymorphism in miR-608 was not significantly associated with lung cancer, further studies with more samples are suggested to confirm these findings.

Lung carcinoma (LC) is a group of anomalies associated with abnormal respiratory cell divisions. Some studies reported the possible role of the miR-499 (rs3746444) polymorphism in LCs in various societies. In the current case-control study, we decided to investigate the role of miR-149C/T variant on LC occurrence in the Iranian population. In this case-control study, a total of 172 subjects (72 LC patients and 100 control) were genotyped by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique, for this aim, 5 ml peripheral blood sample was obtained from each subject and the genomic DNA was extracted by the salting-out method. After genotyping and data collection, the frequency of alleles and genotypes were statistically analyzed (SPSS, v.20). Since the results showed, in the frequency of all types of genotypes (Dominant, Codominant, Over-dominant, and Recessive) and associated alleles (C and T) in miR149C/T no significant difference (p >0.05) was observed in comparison between the patient group and the control group. According to the findings of this study there is no significant relation between the miR-499C/T (rs3746444) polymorphism and lung cancer occurrence and this polymorphism is not a significant risk factor for lung cancer in the Iranian population.

The present study focuses on elucidating the effects of an eight-week combined turning exercise program on the physical performance of female students with Down syndrome (DS), a genetic disorder characterized by intellectual disability and often associated with weaker muscle strength. Individuals with DS typically exhibit reduced muscle strength due to a lower percentage of slow-twitch muscle fibers and a diminished overall number of muscle fibers.

In this semi-experimental clinical trial, the authors used purposive sampling to enroll 26 female students diagnosed with DS. Participants were randomly divided into an experimental group (n=13; mean age: 12.15±1.62 years, mean height: 139.23±8.94 cm, mean weight: 42.62±13.44 kg, mean IQ: 63.02±5.54) and a control group (n=13; mean age: 12.23±1.53 years, mean height: 141.15±10.31 cm, mean weight: 45.46±15.94 kg, mean IQ: 63.05±5.49). The authors evaluated muscle strength using a hand-held digital dynamometer, push-up test, long jump, and sit-up before and after the eight-week training period. The experimental group underwent a combined turning training program lasting 45-60 minutes daily, thrice a week, for eight weeks. We analyzed the data using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a significance level set at p≤0.05.

The findings revealed a significant enhancement in physical performance among participants in the experimental group compared to those in the control group (p≤0.05). Specifically, the combined turning exercise program positively influenced upper body, middle body, and lower body muscle strength in female students diagnosed with DS.

The results of this investigation imply that incorporating combined turning exercises could serve as an effective strategy for enhancing muscle strength among female students diagnosed with DS. Integrating these exercises into rehabilitation programs tailored for individuals with DS may improve their physical performance and enhance their overall quality of life.

Oat is one of the grains used in the world, and consuming its right amounts could be considered as a part of a gluten-free diet for people suffering from celiac disease. However, this grain has a hull that is not digested by the human digestive system, and hence need to be dehulled. In this research, a laboratory impact oat dehuller was designed, fabricated and evaluated. The dehulling experiments of Hashemi oat variety were performed at 5 levels of rotor speed (1000, 1250, 1500, 1750, and 2000 rpm) and 3 levels of moisture content (6, 9, and 12% w.b.) with three replications. The effect of these variables on groat percentage (GP), dehulling efficiency (DHE), broken groats (%B), unbroken groat yield (%GY), and mill yield (%MY) was studied. The results revealed that with increase in the rotational speed of the rotor at all grain moistures, the %GY first increased and then decreased. The DHE indicated an ascending trend with increasing the rotor speed and grain moisture. The %B increased with increase in the rotational speed and decreased with increase in the grain moisture. The grains that were more resistant to dehulling showed also more resistance to breakage. At each grain moisture content, the rotational speed that led to the highest %GY was considered as the best rotor speed. The %MY had a direct relationship with %GP and DHE, and it showed an ascending trend with increasing the rotor speed and a descending trend with increasing the grain moisture. The best rotor speed and moisture content for dehulling the oat grains were determined to be 1750 rpm and 12% w.b., respectively.

Beyond biological changes, ageing is often associated with degenerative and progressive changes in functional and physiological performance. Different types of exercise and rehabilitation method were introduced for resolving or preventing aging complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 8- week- dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) training on functional performance and quality of life in healthy elderly men. Twenty-eight old men were selected by convenience sampling manner and divided randomly in two groups of experimental (n=13, age: 65.8±4.3 years, height: 1.63±5.92 cm, weight: 69.1±7.4 kg) and control (n=15, age: 66.3±3.8 years, height: 1.64±4.89 cm, weight: 70.1± 6.3 kg). The experimental group received neuromuscular stabilization training for 8 weeks and 3 sessions for 1 hour in a clinic in Baghdad. Static balance (by functional reach test), dynamic balance (by time-up and go test), functional performance (by Berge test), and quality of life (by Leiden-Padua (LEIPAD e questionnaire) were measured before and after training. Data was analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA in SPSS software. P value was set at P≤0.05. The results showed that the intergroup interaction in the variables of functional performance (F=53.3, P=0.00), quality of life (F=65.04, P=0.00), static (F=106.7, P=0.00) and dynamic (F=26.99, P=0.00) balance was significant with the superiority of the DNS group. Postural control, functional performance and quality of life improved after training protocol. Therefore, DNS training can be used as a complementary method for rehabilitation of elderly.

In this report, mixed matrix membranes which are supported by polyethersulfone and sulfonated polyethersulfone prepared for dehydration of isopropanol. The prepared membranes are composed of a porous sublayer from polyethersulfone/sulfonated polyethersulfone and a composite top layer of poly(vinyl alcohol) and titanate nanotubes. In fact, hydrothermally-synthesized titanate nanotubes are dispersed in poly(vinyl alcohol). Moreover, the sulfonated polyethersulfone are used to investigate the effects of the porous sublayer on mass transport and the separation performance of the membranes. Next, the ability of the prepared membranes were studied for pervaporation separation of 90 wt% aqueous isopropanol mixture at 50 . The obtained results indicate that the thickness and chemical properties of the support have had a significant influence on pervaporation results. Totally, decreasing the difference between hydrophilicity of top layer and support has resulted in formation of an ideal interface between the layers. Furthermore, the presence of sulfone groups in interface, formation of hydrogen bounds among hydroxyl groups of poly(vinyl alcohol) and sulfone groups of the sublayer are responsible for enhanced compatibility between the layers. As a result, selective separation of water through the membranes was obtained. In addition, the results indicated that the support led to existence of an additional mass transport in isopropanol dehydration as well as requiring the physical support for the resultant membranes. The obtained results showed that when 4 wt% titanate nanotubes were dispersed in poly(vinyl alcohol) which was supported by sulfonated polyethersulfone the flux and separation factor were about  0.29 kg/m2 h and 4828, respectively.

Atorvastatin (ATV) is one of the hyperlipidemia treatment drugs with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP-15) are two potent regulator factors of ovulation. This study investigated the effect of atorvastatin on GDF-9 and BMP-15 expression and explores its relationship with oocyte maturation in mice. A total of 200 oocytes from 40 mice were collected and divided into two groups (n=100 in each group), including the control group and the atorvastatin group (receiving 2 mg/kg atorvastatin). After oocyte culture in DMEM medium, GDF-9, and BMP-15 expression were evaluated by Real-time PCR. The rate of oocyte maturation was evaluated using fluorescent microscope scanning. Data were analyzed using an ANOVA test. GDF-9 and BMP-15 expression in control and atorvastatin groups were 2.3 and 4.8 (P≤0.05) and 1.2 and 3.4 fold respectively (P≤0.001). The oocyte maturation rate in the atorvastatin and control groups was 82% and 76%, respectively (p>0.05). According to our findings, low-dose atorvastatin caused overexpression of GDF-9 and BMP-15 in mice oocytes and it could improve the quality and maturation of mouse oocytes.

This study aimed to investigate stance phase characteristics and asymmetry in females with non-specific low back pain (LBPP) which they adopt different strategies in walking to reduce pain and enhance walking quality. The results of this research can provide new insight into gait characteristics for individuals with LBPP by examining temporal characteristics and asymmetry in their stance phase during walking.
In this cross-sectional study, 36 females were purposefully recruited and divided into two groups: one consisting of 18 individuals with low back pain (LBPP) and the other without LBPP. Data were collected using the Footscan system and analyzed with the Footscan Gait 7 gait generation software. Independent t-tests were employed to compare the outcomes between the two groups.
The results indicated that the right (p=0.001) and left (p=0.001) foot progression angles in the low back pain group were higher than those in the healthy group. Additionally, the low back pain group exhibited higher asymmetry in the timings of the initial contact phase (p=0.02) and forefoot contact phase (p=0.02), as well as in foot progression angle asymmetry (p=0.009) compared to the healthy group.
Given the higher foot progression angle and observed asymmetries in individuals with low back pain, rehabilitative exercises need to consider these differences when evaluating and planning rehabilitation procedures.

Balance is an important factor in people with intellectual disability to have an independent life. These people are weak static and dynamic balance due to lack of development in their central nervous system, defects in the sensory-motor pathways, and having a sedentary life. This study aims to determine the effect of eight weeks of dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) exercises on static and dynamic balance of educable mentally retarded female students.

In this study, participants were 26 educable mentally retarded female students aged 15-20 years (Mean age: 17.19±1.50 years, IQ: 61.15±6.07, weight: 58.9±12.73 kg, height: 157.92±6.07 cm) who were selected using purposive and convenience sampling methods and randomly divided into two groups of training (n=13) and control (n=13). Before and after training, their static balance and dynamic balance on the right and left feet were evaluated using a foot scan device. Subjects in the training group performed DNS exercises at 24 sessions, each session for 40 minutes. No intervention was provided to the control group; they performed their routine activities. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. The significance level was set at 0.05.

After eight weeks of DNS exercises, the results showed a significant improvement in static balance (F=72.54, P=0.001), dynamic balance on the right foot (F=90.90, P=0.002) and dynamic balance on the left foot (F=61.58, P=0.001) in the training group compared to the pretest scores and compared to the control group.

DNS exercises can be used as an effective method to improve static and dynamic balance of educable mentally retarded female students.

The sitting position of guitarists while playing can cause more contraction of the neck muscles and lead to pain in the neck area. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of eight weeks of corrective exercises on neck pain, forward head, and rounded shoulder posture in guitar players. The current research is a semi-experimental type with a pre-test and post-test design, and 33 male guitar players from Ferydan City, Isfahan province were selected in a purposeful and available manner. Then they were randomly divided into two experimental groups (17 people) and control (16 people). In the pre-test and post-test stages, neck pain was measured using the neck pain and disability measurement scale questionnaire, and the forward head and round shoulder angle were measured by photographing from the side view. The experimental group performed corrective exercises for eight weeks. Shapiro-Wilk test and Levin's F test were used to check the normality of data distribution, and the repeated measure test at a significance level of 0.05 was used to check the changes between groups. The comparison of the data between the two groups showed a significant difference before and after the training period regarding the neck pain scale and the amount of forward head angle and round shoulder angle in the corrective exercise group (P=0.001). Exercises probably create a balance between muscle groups, it had a favorable effect on reducing neck pain and improving head and shoulder forward abnormalities. Therefore, it is suggested that these exercises be included in the daily activity program of guitarists to manage injuries caused by playing and increase the professional life of a musician.

Corporate credit rating facilitates investment decision by comparing their credit risk with each other, On the other hand, the rate of the company determines the cost of financing in capital market.This study investigates the effects of the disclosure of related party transactions on firms’ credit ratings. Therefore, in order to test the research hypothesis, a sample of 105 firms was selected from the firms listed in Tehran Stock Exchange during the period 2016 to 2020 . the hypotheses were tested using regression method on panel data. The results showed that the f Related Party Transactions Disclosure and Credit Ratings, there is a negative significant relationship And these transactions will reduce the credit rating of the company. It is therefore recommended that financial analysts and rating agents evaluate the effects of these transactions and incorporate them into their valuation and credit rating models.

The path of the center of pressure while walking reflects the general mechanics of the body. Also, the electrical stimulation system triggers movement units, including the lower limbs. The present study investigated the effect of the electrical stimulation system on gait and balance patterns in young athletes.

This research is applied and semi-experimental. In this study, 15 male athletes were selected by convenience sampling. The present study was performed in February 1400 at Shahriar Health Club. Participants were asked to walk at a self-selected speed. In the middle of the walking path, a foot-scanning device was placed, which recorded information about the path of the center of pressure, the relative duration of the stance phases, and the forward angle in both positions with and without the muscle stimulation vest. After checking the normality of the data using the Shapiro-Wilk test, paired sample t-test was used to analyze the data.

The results showed that the electrical muscle stimulation system had a favorable effect on the gait pattern of athletes compared to those without a vest. Electrical stimulation led to a slight increase in pressure center oscillations and improved displacement of pressure fluctuations (p=0.001) in the vest mode, which showed the effectiveness of this method.

The results of the present study showed that strengthening the muscles of the lower extremities by the electrical muscle stimulation system had favorable effects on athletes' gait pattern and foot pressure fluctuations.

Aging is related to a decrease in physiological and functional capacity which can increase disability, decrease balance and fall. The widespread problems in the elderly that occur as a result of the aging process are the loss of balance, increase in vertical fluctuations, and the possibility of falling. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of RNT exercises on balance, strength, and quality of life of elderly women.  The statistical population of the present study included 18 elderly women living in Isfahan selected as available sampling and after taking the pre-test, they were randomly divided into two experimental (9 people) and control (9 people) groups. The subjects were trained for 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week for 1 hour at Parsia Clinic. The research tools included functional reach test to measure static balance, timed back and forth test to measure dynamic balance, sit-to-stand test to measure lower limb muscle strength, and Lipad quality of life questionnaire. After the end of the training period, both groups were tested again by SPSS software version 24. The results were analyzed using the ANOVA statistical test for repeated measurements to check the research hypotheses. According to the results, eight weeks of dynamic neuromuscular stability exercises significantly improved the static balance and dynamic balance of elderly women(05/0>p). Also, eight weeks of RNT exercises significantly improved the strength of the lower limb muscles of elderly women and improved the quality of life of elderly women (P<0.05). The present study showed that eight weeks of RNT exercises can be effective in improving static balance, dynamic balance, lower limb muscle strength and quality of life of elderly women. These factors are among the most important factors related to the health of the elderly. Therefore, RNT exercises can be effective for treatment and rehabilitation and are recommended as an effective method to improve these components in elderly women.

The present study investigated the effect of eight weeks of reactive neuromuscular training (RNT) on postural control, muscle strength and quality of life in older adults.The subjects were 30 elderly women who participated in two groups of experience and control. They took static balance test (Functional Reach test), dynamic balance (Timed up and Go test (TUG)) and muscle strength (foot dynamometer device), Before and after eight weeks of training., the risk of falling and the quality of life were measured through the Hopkins fall risk questionnaire and the Lipad quality of life measurement. then the experience group received six weeks of neuromuscular training and the control group did not participate in any exercise program. Data were analyzed using SPSS and repeated measures ANOVA method.static balance (p=0.003), TUG(p=0.035), fall risk (p=0.047) and quality of life (p=0.018) in experience group showed a significant difference compared to the control group. muscle strength improved only in the knee extensor muscles of the right leg (p=0.009) and left (p=0.010) and the left hip adductor muscles (p=0.001) compared to the control group.A course of neuromuscular training improved static balance, muscle strength, reduce the risk of falling and quality of life of elderly women. However, this type of exercise reduces the possibility of elderly people falling down. A course of neuromuscular training improved static balance, muscle strength, reduce the risk of falling and quality of life of elderly women. However, this type of exercise reduces the possibility of elderly people falling down.

Chronic back pain is one of the most common problems in today's society that has recently increased due to inactivity, so various methods of rehabilitation are being studied. The aim of this study was to Comparison of the Effect of Core Stability exercises at both stable and unstable levels on pain, height control and quality of life in women with chronic low back pain.

Twenty female patients with chronic low back pain were randomly divided into two groups of exercise (n = 10) stable and unstable (trampoline). Pain (by visual pain scale), static balance (by stork test), dynamic balance (by Y test) and quality of life (by SF36 questionnaire) were measured before and after the 8 week intervention. Subsequently, patients in both groups received their own training, three sessions every week for 8 weeks. Data were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA in SPSS software.

The results showed that the intergroup interaction in the variables of pain, quality of life, static and dynamic balance was significant with the superiority of the unstable level group (P <0.05).

The results of the study indicate that exercises for both stable and unstable surface effectively improve pain, increase balance and improve the quality of life of the subjects. The results, however, show that the variables in the unstable training group (trampoline) have significantly improved compared to the other group, so this method can be used as a complementary treatment modality for patients with non-specific chronic low back pain. .

Numerous experiments have been performed to determine the relationship between the Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) -1306C/T and -735C/T polymorphisms and the prevalence and progression of lung cancer in diverse populations. However, due to the small sample size and the different results of previous studies, we decided to perform a general meta-analysis on all previous studies about mmp-2 polymorphism and lung cancer in Asian population.

A complete literature review was conducted within the ISI Web of Knowledge, google scholar, and PubMed databases for studies about MMP-2 polymorphism and lung cancer published from 2002 to 2020. A meta-analysis was conducted, which included more than 2884 cases and 2768 controls. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used for dominant, recessive, and co-dominant MMP-9 genotypes to assess the strength of the association.

A significant correlation was found between the MMP2 C 1306T polymorphism and lung cancer risk (C vs T: OR=1.705, P=0.029; CC vs CT+ TT: OR=1.16, 95% P=0.000) and for MMP2 C 735T polymorphism (C vs T: OR=1.433, P=0.151; CC vs CT+TT: OR=1.698, P=0.000).

The present meta-analysis revealed a significant association between the MMP-2-735C/T and MMP-9-1562 C/T polymorphisms and the risk of lung cancer in Asian population.

The aim of this study is to design a model of factors affecting on usage of computer-assisted audit techniques based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology with considering auditor’s characteristics. This research is descriptive-survey in terms of data collection with an applied purpose. Statistical population includes auditors employed in audit firms that 311 auditors are selected by Cochran method through judgmental and convenience sampling methods. Data are collected using a standard questionnaire and hypotheses are examined by structural equation modeling. The result shows auditor’s expectation of performance of CAATs, their expectation of the effort needed for CAATs, auditor’s understanding of the social consequences of CAATs and their understanding of facilitating conditions impact the use of CAATs. Furthermore, performance expectation and the understanding of the social young and aged auditors, causing appearance of dissimilar behavior in applying CAATs. Nevertheless, this is not the same for gender variable.

Inactive lifestyles and neurological disorders among mentally retarded people have caused them to suffer from weaknesses in physical fitness and social adjustment factors. Breathing exercises along with the reconstruction of movement patterns from the first year of life in Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) exercises, in addition to treatment, can be effective in preventing many disorders. Therefore the present study aims to study the effect of eight weeks of DNS training on respiratory function, functional tests and quality of life (QOL) of educable mentally retarded students.

Twenty-six educable mentally retarded female students with a mean age (17.19 ± 1.50) and IQ (61.15 ± 6.07) were selected semi-experimentally and purposefully based on IQ and two paired into experimental groups (n = 13) and a control (n = 13) randomly. Before and after the training intervention, respiratory function, functional test and QOL variables were assessed through the Rockport walking test, the FMS test and the Cummins questionnaire, respectively. Analysis of variance for duplicate data at a significance level of 0.05 was used to analyze the data.

According to the results of this study, after performing eight weeks of DNS training, there was a significant difference in respiratory function (P = 0.001, F = 82.93), right FMS (P = 0.011, F = 51.00), Left FMS (P = 0.001, F = 46.09) and QOL (P = 0.001 F = 34.25) were created in the experimental group compared to before the training protocol and also in the control group (P < 0.05). Therefore, DNS exercises showed a significant effect on respiratory performance, functional tests, and quality of life of students with intellectual disabilities.

Based on the current results, it appears that DNS exercises can be used as an effective method for improving the breathing performance, functional tests, and quality of life of mentally disabled female students.

Down syndrome is one of the most common genetic diseases in people with intellectual disabilities, which leads to delays in motor skill. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the effect of eight weeks of turning exercises on the motor skills in femaile students with Down syndrome.

In this semi-experimental research, 26 female students with Down syndrome were selected in an accessible and purposeful manner and then divided into experimental group (with an average age of 12.15 ± 1.62, height 139.23 ± 8.94, weight 42.62 ± 13.44 and IQ 63.02 ± 5.54) and control group (with mean age 12.23 ± 1.53, height 141.15 ± 10.31, weight 45.46 ± 15.94 and IQ 63.05 ± 5.49) were randomly paired. Before and after the training period, gross and fine motor skills was evaluated using Short form of Bruininks-Oseretsky test. The subjects of the experimental group underwent 24 sessions (each session lasting 45-60 minutes). Analysis of variance for duplicate data was used to analyze the data at a significance level of 0.05.

The findings revealed a significant interaction in gross motor skills (P < 0.001, F = 113.60), fine motor skills (P = 0.040, F = 4.40) and composite score (P < 0.001, F = 68.56) in the experimental group compared to the control group. These results indicate that the implementation of combined turning exercises had a significant impact on enhancing the motor skills of students with Down syndrome.

According to the results of this study, these exercises can be used as an effective method to improve the gross motor skills of students with Down syndrome.

Given the prevalence of diabetes and the increasing number of diabetics, it is essential to find medicines to decrease the chronic complications of diabetes. Several studies have demonstrated that chronic hyperglycemia and its complications are directly related to protein glycation. Thus, identifying natural inhibitors to stop glycation of proteins may play a crucial role in managing the chronic complications of diabetes. Currently, various natural and synthetic compounds with anti-glycation attributes have been reported. The use of natural compounds in herbs (medicinal and non-medicinal) may be of particular importance due to fewer side effects and a wide range of therapeutic properties. Accordingly, this mini-review provides a list of common natural medicines and synthetic compounds with anti-glycation activity. As well, it provides brief information on the formation of advanced glycosylated end products (AGEs), their side effects, and glycation prevention mechanisms.

Atorvastatin is one of the high blood cholesterol treatment drugs that recently has been shown to have antioxidant effects in the cell. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of atorvastatin on in vitro growth and quality of immature mouse oocytes.

Oocytes of 40 NMRI mice were removed after stimulation of ovulation and placed in culture medium. The oocytes were divided into two groups of 200 including control (culture medium) and atorvastatin group (culture medium + 2 μM atorvastatin). Then oocyte qualitative parameters of Zona pellucida thickness (ZP), Perivitelline space size (PVS) and egg diameter (OD) were determined using invert microscope and image-J software.

Quantitative parameters of Zona pellucida thickness and oocyte diameter were increased in the atorvastatin group compared to the control group. In the evaluation of oocytes quality, the number of oocytes with +1 score in the atorvastatin and control groups were (70%) and (55.4%) respectively, and the difference between the two group was significant (p≤0.05). The number of polar bodies with +1 score in the atorvastatin and control groups were (36.18%) and (18.5%) respectively (p≤0.05).

The use of atorvastatin has a significant effect on the growth and final quality of immature oocytes in vitro and in the future, it could possibly be used to increase the efficiency of in vitro fertilization

Fruits confort several main procedures including harvesting, sorting, packaging, storage, and transportation. During these processes, fruits could encounter either static or dynamic loadings that potentially cause mechanical damage (Polat et al., 2012). Bruising is the most common type of post-harvest mechanical injury in fruits. Around 30–40% of the agricultural products become decayed due to mechanical damage. Mechanical injuries, such as bruises are difficult to limit. However, proper understanding the mechanism of bruises occurrence allows to reduce this undesirable phenomenon (Komarnicki et al.; 2017). Susceptibility measurement of the bruising can provide useful information toimprove postharvest handling and storage operations (Zhu et al., 2016). The bruise susceptibility of fruits and vegetables is themeasurment of response to external loading. Bruise prediction models can provide useful information about the influence of fruit properties on bruise susceptibility, leading to recommendations for fruit handling (Van Zeebroeck et al., 2007b). Bruise prediction models connect the impact characteristics (drop height, contact force and impact energy) to bruise damage, taking into account some fruit properties (radius of curvature, stiffness, temperature, color, etc) that determine bruise sensitivity. Apricot is one of the most vulnerable fruits to mechanical injuries. Therefore, controlling and reducing the mechanical injuries can improve the quality of apricot and increase its export. For this reason, the aim of present study was to evaluate the apricot bruising susceptibility and developing bruise prediction models for apricot fruit.

In the present study, two Iranian apricot varieties "Shahroudi" and "Ordubad" were used for experimental tests. All the fruits were harvested at their traditional maturity in June 2018. In order to avoid and minimize any pre-bruising, all the apricots were carefully hand-picked. Any extremely small or large fruits were excluded from the tests. The physical and mechanical properties of apricots and main characteristics were measured. A curvature meter was used to measure the radius of curvature locally at the point of impact. The acoustic impulse technique was used to measure the fruit firmness non-destructively. Constant height multiple impact (CHMI) method was used to measure apricot critical energy level. In this study bruise susceptibility of the studied cultivars was evaluated using a pendulum impact device to measure required parameters including the impact force, impact velocity, and impact energy. All apricots were placed in the special chamber and a spherical metal impactor was used to impact the apricots. Absorbed energy criteria have been used to quantify bruise damage. In this study, three different impact levels applied in the experimental tests. To obtain the absorbed energy the difference between impact energy and rebound energy was calculated and recorded for each impact test. Different regression models (linear, multiple-linear, and logarithmic) were developed to predict bruising in apricot fruit and were evaluated by proper criteria (R2, R_adj^2, and RMSE). In these models, impact characteristics (impact energy or peak contact force) along with fruit characteristics (acoustic stiffness and radius of curvature) were considered as independent variables and the absorbed energy as the dependent variable. Two separate regression models were developed. In the first model (model 1) independent variables were peak contact force (PF), the apricot radius of curvature at the location of impact (R), and apricot acoustic stiffness (S). In the second model (model 2) PF was replaced by the impact energy (Ei) and the other two variables were the same as the first model. Data analyses were performed using SPSS (version 25.0) and JMP Pro (version 13) software packages.

Experimental data analysis showed both radii of curvature and acoustic stiffness had a negative effect on apricot absorbed energy in Shahroudi and Ordubad cultivars. In Shahroudi cultivar, the average radius of curvature was 20% less than the Ordubad cultivar. Also, the average acoustic stiffness in the Ordubad cultivar was 19% higher than acoustic stiffness in the Shahroudi cultivar. Therefore, the average bruising ratio in the Shahroudi cultivar was 5% higher than the Ordubad cultivar. In both cultivars, apricots with a lower radius of curvature at the contact area had high absorbed energy than those with a higher radius of curvature. By increasing the peak impact force from 16.5 to 30 N, the average absorbed energy in the Ordubad cultivar was increased by 71%. While this amount was 78% in Shahroudi. Also, the mean difference between the absorbed energy between the initial (19 mm) and final (27 mm) range of the curvature radius in Shahroudi and Ordubad cultivars was 18 and 29%, respectively. Also, the mean energy absorption difference between the initial and final acoustic stiffness ranges in Shahroudi and Ordubad cultivars was 27% and 32%, respectively. In other words, with increasing acoustic stiffness, the amount of absorbed energy in Shahroudi and Ordubad cultivars was decreased 27 and 32%, respectively. The effect of the impact energy parameter on the absorbed energy was similar to the peak contact force. Results of prediction models indicated that all of the studied independent parameters, including peak contact force, impact energy, the radius of curvature, and acoustic stiffness, and some of their interactions were significant on the absorbed energy at the 5% probability level. The results showed that increasing the two parameters of impact energy and peak contact force increases the energy absorbed in apricots.

This study was conducted to develop statistic models among different kinds of regressions, to estimate the apricot fruit bruising susceptibility by absorbed energy. Absorbed energy parameter is a good estimation property to quantify bruise damage in apricot. There were significant main effects and significant interactions between fruit properties (radius of curvature and acoustic stiffness) and the impact properties (peak contact force or impact energy). In both apricot cultivars, damage to the fruit decreased with the increase of acoustic stiffness. So, softer apricots developed a higher amount of absorbed energy. Also, smaller radii of curvature led to more bruise damage in both cultivars. It was concluded that Shahroudis cultivar was more susceptible to bruising rather than Ordubad cultivar. The results of this study in predictive regression models showed that a multiple-linear model was selected as the best model for fitting experimental data.

Since the maintenance and repairing costs of mechanical systems, such as structures and rotating machines are significantly high, one way to reduce these costs is to consider some approaches before any operational work to check for damages in such systems. In this study, a new method is presented for damage detection of offshore jacket structures in the presence of various uncertainties, such as modeling errors, measurement errors and environmental noises, based on the simulated model and intact state of the real model. In the proposed method, real intact structure data is used to update the simulated model parameters. Some parts of the signal that are not related to the nature of the system are removed using the complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition method. Frequency data is extracted from the vibrational signals using the frequency domain decomposition method. A deep auto-encoder neural network is designed to learn the damage-sensitive features from the frequency data and to damage detection of the structure. In order to train the proposed deep network, frequency data of the simulated model and real intact state are used; then the frequency data of the real structure is used to test the proposed deep network. The results show that the proposed method is capable for damage detection of the offshore jacket structure with more accurate results than the other comparative methods.