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Unusual levels of agricultural product waste are becoming one of the issues and dangers that human societies face in their efforts to achieve food security. Therefore, reducing agricultural product waste is one of the main strategies for the optimal use of production resources and support food security. In this study, a multilevel Bayesian technique was used to examine the characteristics of customers and the effects of marketing mix on the waste of selected agricultural products—a subgroup of fruits and vegetables in Mashhad, Iran. Based on this, 368 consumers (at the first level), 53 fruit and vegetable markets (at the second level), and 3 main supply centers of fruit and vegetables in the city (at the third level) were evaluated using the Bayesian multilevel model. The results showed that approximately 56% of food waste variance was caused by differences between consumers, 29% is due to the differences between fruit and vegetable markets, and almost 14% is due to the differences between the main supply centers of Mashhad. Also, the effects of the marketing mix showed that the place of distribution of agricultural products always has an increasing effect on the waste of agricultural products. Moreover, increasing the price of agricultural products reduces waste by consumers and keeps the consumer away from unnecessary purchases. The product factor also has an increasing effect on the waste of agricultural products, and consumers are encouraged to consume more and create more waste. A good way to reduce agricultural product waste is to use solutions that slow down the spoilage process and extend the shelf life of fruit and vegetables. Using an appropriate marketing mix and considering the characteristics of consumers can also control the waste of agricultural products.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disease causing chronic progressive inflammatory disease. In this study, we aimed to evaluate a new strategy for gene polymorphism of IL17A which may be related to the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in Iranian patients. We examined the genes IL17A and IL17F in relation to RA. They compared the DNA of 100 RA patients and 92 healthy individuals for the IL17A gene, and 116 RA patients and 107 healthy individuals for the IL17F gene. A technique called PCR-RFLP was used to analyze their genetic makeup. SPSS software was used for statistical analyses. There was a significant association between the patients and control group in rs2275913 (OR = 2.97, 95%CI = 1.38-6.46, P = < 0.001). However, there was no significant relationship between the patient and control group at rs763780 (OR = 1.49, 95%CI = 0.806-2.76, P = 0.201). Also, in this study, the association between genotypes mentioned above and Anti-ccp was investigated. There was no significant correlation between any genotype and positive Anti-ccp. (P = 0.142 for rs2275913 and P = 0.330 for rs763780). Based on this study, rs2275913 polymorphism of gene IL17A could contribute to the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in Iranian patients.

Purpose The relationship between posterior-circulation lesion volume (PCLV) and clinical outcomes is poorly investigated. We aimed to analyze, in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (ABAO), if pre-endovascular treatment (EVT) PCLV was a predictor of outcomes. Methods We analyzed consecutive MRI selected, endovascularly treated ABAO patients. Baseline PCLV was measured in milliliters on apparent diffusion-coefficient map reconstruction. Univariable and multivariable logistic models were used to test if PCLV was a predictor of 90-day outcomes. After the received operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the optimal cut-off was determined to evaluate the prognostic value of PCLV. Results A total of 110 ABAO patients were included. The median PCLV was 4.4 ml (interquartile range, 1.3–21.2 ml). Successful reperfusion was achieved in 81.8% of cases after EVT. At 90 days, 31.8% of patients had a modified Rankin scale ≤ 2, and the mortality rate was 40.9%. PCLV was an independent predictor of functional independence and mortality (odds ratio [OR]:0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34–0.93 and 1.84, 95% CI, 1.23–2.76, respectively). The ROC analysis showed that a baseline PCLV ≤ 8.7 ml was the optimal cut-off to predict the 90-day functional independence (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.68, 95% CI, 0.57–0.79, sensitivity 88.6%, and specificity 49.3%). In addition, a PCLV ≥ 9.1 ml was the optimal cut-off for the prediction of 90-day mortality (AUC = 0.71, 95% CI, 0.61–0.82, sensitivity 80%, and specificity 60%). Conclusions Pre-treatment PCLV was an independent predictor of 90-day outcomes in ABAO. A PCLV ≤ 8.7 and ≥ 9.1 ml may identify patients with a higher possibility to achieve independence and a higher risk of death at 90 days, respectively.

Background and Purpose The best embolic protection strategy has not yet been established for carotid artery stenting (CAS). This article reports a new simplified approach using a balloon guide catheter inspired by stroke therapy, in patients harboring a symptomatic ICA atherosclerotic stenosis or web. In addition, the three angiographic patterns and clinical outcomes associated with this technique, called the simple flow blockage (SFB) technique are described. Material and Methods This was a retrospective study with data extraction from a monocentric prospective clinical registry of consecutive patients admitted for symptomatic ICA stenosis or web. The primary study outcome (composite endpoint) was the rate of occurrence of death, symptomatic stroke or acute coronary syndrome within 30 days of the intervention. Results In this study 75 symptomatic patients with >50% carotid artery atherosclerotic stenosis or web were included. All procedures were successfully performed. The composite endpoint occurred in 3 patients (4.0%, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.0–11.3): 1 had symptomatic ischemic stroke, 1 had reperfusion syndrome with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and 1 had acute coronary syndrome. After proximal balloon inflation three angiographic patterns were observed: complete contrast column stagnation in the ICA (38.7%), retrograde washout of the ICA from the intracranial circulation towards the external carotid artery (35.5%) and antegrade washout of contrast medium towards the intracranial circulation (25.8%). The median procedure length was 40 min. New asymptomatic ischemic lesions were observed in 22.5% on DWI-MRI. Conclusion The SFB technique enables fast and safe procedures in CAS. A favorable angiographic pattern after proximal balloon inflation was observed in 74.2% of cases.

We present a practical and simple method for calculating the mutual inductance between two non-coaxial circular coils with parallel axes. All possible circular coils such as coils of rectangular cross section, thin wall solenoids, thin disk coils (pancakes) and circular filamentary coils are taken into consideration. We use Grover's formula for the mutual inductance between two filamentary circular coils with parallel axes. The filament method is applied for all coil combinations, for coils of the rectangular cross section and for thin coils. We consider that the proposed method is very simple, accurate and practical for engineering applications. Computed mutual inductance values obtained by the proposed method have been verified by previously published data and the software Fast-Henry. All results are in a very good agreement. This method can be used in various electromagnetic applications such as coil guns, tubular linear motors, transducers, actuators and biomedical implanted sensors.

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a chronic rheumatic disease which mainly involves the axial skeleton. It seems that non-HLA genes, as well as HLA-B27 gene, are linked to the etiology of the disease. Recently, it has been documented that KIRs and their HLA ligands are contributed to the Ankylosing Spondylitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the KIR genes and their HLA ligands in Iranian AS patients and healthy individuals. The present study includes 200 AS patient samples and 200 healthy control samples. KIR genotyping was performed using the polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP) method to type the presence or absence of the 16 KIR genes, 6 known specific HLA class I ligands and also, two pseudogenes. Two KIR genes (KIR-2DL3 and KIR2DL5), and among the HLA ligands, two HLA ligands (HLA-C2Lys80 and HLA-B27) genes were significantly different between case and control groups. In addition, we found some interesting KIR/HLA compound genotypes, which were associated with AS susceptibility. Our results suggest that the AS patients present more activating and less inhibitory KIR genes with combination of their HLA ligands than healthy controls. Once the balance of signal transduction between activating and inhibitory receptors is disturbed, the ability of NK cells to identify and lyse the targets in immune responses will be compromised. Accordingly, imbalance of activating and inhibitory KIR genes by up-regulating the activation and losing the inhibition of KIRs signaling or combination of both might be one of the important factors which underlying the pathogenesis of AS.

Spondyloarthropathies (SpA), defined by inflammatory situations, are a category of rheumatic diseases with mainly involvement of the spine, enthuses, and peripheral joints. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), as the prototype of this category, is an autoimmune disease with a chronic inflammatory arthritis which is characterized by axial skeletal ankylosis, inflammation at the entheses, and arthritis of the peripheral limbs. AS shows a strong association with Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA)-B27 hereditary, and the misfolded HLA-B27 heavy chain homodimer in an animal model has supported the important role of this molecule in the pathogenesis of AS. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are categorized as type I integral membrane glycoproteins which play important roles in the innate immune system. In human, 11 members of TLR family have been identified. There is an evidence demonstrating the role of TLR4 in the perforin production by helper T cells in ankylosing spondylitis. Nevertheless, it has been demonstrated that the level of TLR4 protein on peripheral-blood leucocytes of AS patients and healthy individuals is different.

The aim of the present study was to appraisal the prose and cone of Shiraz City in terms of its potential in the context of health tourism. The statistical sample included medical and health tourism sector in the city of Shiraz in the northwest of Fars Province, south of Iran. The efficient authorities on the topic were identified through the hospitals engaging in medical tourism. The research was based on theoretical sampling through which the experienced people of extensive knowledge on medical tourism were interviewed. Active hospitals on attraction foreign patients averagely admit 15 and 50 foreign patients monthly and annually, respectively. Arab countries in the Persian Gulf were detected as the main marketing for Shiraz medical tourism. Oman encompassed the highest rate with 20% of admitted patients. Eye treatments with 30% and orthopedic with 6% were demonstrated as the highest and lowest rates in terms of foreign patients' needs, respectively. Closeness of cultural and religious beliefs and familial relationships on one hand and trusting to Iranian physicians on the other hand were amongst the most reasons for selecting Iran as a destination for medical tourism by patients. Implementing 4 strategies on monitoring medical tourism would result into significant improvement of attracting more foreigner patients not only into Shiraz but all around Iran. These items have been discussed in the text.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disease causing chronic progressive inflammatory disease. In this study, we aimed to evaluate a new strategy for gene polymorphism of IL17A which may be related to the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in Iranian patients. We examined the genes IL17A and IL17F in relation to RA. They compared the DNA of 100 RA patients and 92 healthy individuals for the IL17A gene, and 116 RA patients and 107 healthy individuals for the IL17F gene. A technique called PCR-RFLP was used to analyze their genetic makeup. SPSS software was used for statistical analyses. There was a significant association between the patients and control group in rs2275913 (OR = 2.97, 95%CI = 1.38-6.46, P = < 0.001). However, there was no significant relationship between the patient and control group at rs763780 (OR = 1.49, 95%CI = 0.806-2.76, P = 0.201). Also, in this study, the association between genotypes mentioned above and Anti-ccp was investigated. There was no significant correlation between any genotype and positive Anti-ccp. (P = 0.142 for rs2275913 and P = 0.330 for rs763780). Based on this study, rs2275913 polymorphism of gene IL17A could contribute to the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in Iranian patients.

Objectives Negative susceptibility vessel sign (SVS) on pre-thrombectomy MRI has been linked to fibrin-rich thrombus and difficult retrieval in anterior ischemic stroke. However, its impact in posterior circulation-large vessel occlusion stroke (PC-LVOS) has not yet been elucidated. We aim to investigate the relationship of SVS parameters with stroke subtypes and their influence on angiographic and functional outcomes. Methods Prospective thrombectomy registries at two-comprehensive stroke centers were retrospectively reviewed between January 2015 and December 2019 for consecutive MRI-selected patients with PC-LVOS. Two groups were assigned by two independent readers, based on the presence or absence of the SVS (SVS +, SVS -) on MRI-GRE sequence. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to study primarily the impact of the SVS on the rate of complete recanalization (defined as mTICI 2c/3) at the final series following endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) and whether or not it might influence the efficacy of the frontline EVT strategy. Secondarily, we studied whether the absence of the SVS was predictive of the rate of 90-day functional independence (defined as mRS score < 2). Lastly, both qualitative (SVS +, SVS-) and quantitative (SVS length and diameter) parameters of the SVS were analyzed in association with the puncture to recanalization interval and various stroke etiological subtypes based on TOAST criteria. Results Among 1823 patients, 116 were qualified for final analysis (median age, 68 (59–75) years; male, 65%); SVS was detected in 62.9% (73/116) of cases. SVS length was an independent predictor of procedural duration ( p = .01) whilst two-layered SVS was inversely associated with the atherosclerosis etiological subtype (aOR = 0.27, 95% CI 0.08–0.89; p = .03). Successful recanalization was achieved in 82% (60/73) vs. 86% (37/43), p = .80 of patients with SVS (+, -) respectively. Only in SVS (+), stentriever (RR 0.59 (0.4–0.88), p = .009), and contact-aspiration (RR 0.82 (0.7–0.96), p = .01) achieved a lower rate of successful recanalization compared to combined technique. SVS (-) was significantly associated with a higher rate of mTICI 2c/3 (aOR = 4.444; 95% CI 1.466–13.473; p = .008) and showed an indirect effect of 9% towards functional independence mediated by mTICI 2c/3. Conclusion SVS parameters in PC-LVOS might predict stroke subtype and indirectly influence the functional outcome by virtue of complete recanalization. Key Points • Negative susceptibility vessel sign (SVS) in patients with basilar occlusion independently predict complete recanalization that indirectly instigated a 3-month favorable outcome following thrombectomy. • The longer the SVS, the higher likelihood of large artery atherosclerosis and the longer the thrombectomy procedure. • Two-layered SVS might be negatively associated with the presence of atherosclerosis, yet already-known limitations of TOAST classification and the absence of pathological analysis should be taken into consideration. Graphical abstract