STUDYING THE EFFECT OF CATIONIC STARCH- ANIONIC NANOSILICA SYSTEM ON RETENTION AND DRAINAGE

Nanoparticles are widely used in the papermaking industry as retention/ drainage aids, usually in conjunction with a high mass cationic polyelectrolyte such as cationic starch. However, little convincing knowledge of their role and mechanism in the wet-end system is yet found. This work focused on the role of nanosilica on papermaking wet end system in response to some processing parameters (drainage, retention, and electrostatic force of the whole system). The observations indicated that the nanosilica performance is defined by interactions of nanosilica with the complex aqueous environment of wet end system. The interaction mechanism seems to rely on introduction of nanoparticles into a cationic starch-fines-fibers network, converting the fiber mat on the forming wire into a porous structure that is responsive to retention and drainage

Morphological study in Azeri and Khuzestani buffaloes of Iran

In order to evaluate and compare the properties of type traits in Khuzestani and Azeri river buffaloes, 148 and 336 Khuzestani and Azeri buffaloes were used, respectively. Animals were evaluated for traits such as Height at Withers, Body depth, Body length, Heart girth, Hip width, Pin width and Hip to Pin length. The averages for these traits in Khuzestani breed were 145.2±6.63, 78.27±5.43, 140.5±10.05, 208.87±13.75, 57±4.44, 25.29±3.03 and 44±2.97 cm and in Azeri breed were 138.93±6.39, 76.4±5.61, 136.22±10.05, 184±13.66, 54.96±4.85, 26.43±3.94 and 43.8±3.44 cm, respectively. The effect of breed on height at withers, heart girth and hip width was quite significant (P<0.001) and values for these traits in Khuzestani breed was higher than Azeri. The effect of parity number for all studied traits was significant (P<0.001), except for the heart girth. Heifers had the lowest values among different age groups and differences in this group increased with increasing age and parity. Also, the effects of province as a factor for climate and culture circumstances on studied traits was quite significant (P<0.001), except for the heart girth and hip to Pin length. Buffaloes in Guilan province had lowest and buffaloes in Khuzestan and Kermanshah provinces had the highest values

The effects of normal and interrupted sleep combined with acute caffeine supplementation on some immune system indices and anaerobic power in male athletes

Background and Purpose: Adequate sleep is recognized as a fundamental factor in enhancing athletic performance. Studies have shown that poor sleep can lead to decreased anaerobic power and increased risk of diseases. Additionally, caffeine consumption, as one of the popular sports supplements, can directly or indirectly affect the immune system through its impact on sleep and rest, and also result in positive effects on performance. In the current study, the effects of normal and interrupted sleep combined with acute caffeine supplementation on some immune system indices and anaerobic power in male athletes were examined.Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental study was conducted using a randomized design. Fourteen male athletes (mean±SD; age, 22.92±1.32 years; height, 176.4±4.38 cm; weight, 71.42±9.65 kg) participated in this study. Participants were randomly and equally assigned to 2 groups and 2 sessions: 1) normal sleep, caffeine/placebo (NSP/NSC) and 2) Interrupted sleep, caffeine/placebo (ISP/ISC). The supplement group consumed 6 mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight, while the placebo group consumed chickpea flour. To assess anaerobic power, a Monark cycle ergometer test was applied with 20 seconds of cycling followed by 20 seconds of rest, immediately followed by 12 sets of 4-second cycling with 10-second rests. Blood samples were taken at four time points: 8 AM (baseline), 60 minutes after supplementation, 5 minutes post-test, and 360 minutes post-test.Results: Five minutes after the test, platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and systemic immune-inflammation (SII) values showed a significant decrease in normal sleep and caffeine conditions compared to interrupted sleep and placebo conditions. Whith blood cells (WBC) values in normal sleep and placebo conditions demonstrated a significant (p<0.05) increase compared to other conditions at 360 minutes post-test. Additionally, at 360 minutes post-test, NLR and SII values in interrupted sleep and caffeine conditions showed a significant increase compared to normal sleep and caffeine conditions (p<0.05). Caffeine supplementation significantly increased NLR and SII values in interrupted sleep and caffeine conditions compared to normal sleep and placebo conditions (p<0.05). Caffeine consumption led to a significant increase in peak power in the normal sleep group compared to other conditions (p<0.05).Conclusion: The results indicated that sleep deprivation negatively impacts immune system indicators, and caffeine supplementation after sleep deprivation improves some immune markers. Although the ergogenic effects of caffeine were confirmed under normal sleep conditions, the lack of enhancement in anaerobic performance with caffeine supplementation during sleep deprivation suggests a need for further research on the effects of different dosages of caffeine supplementation on anaerobic performance. Therefore, considering the improvement in immune function markers under sleep deprivation with caffeine supplementation, even without enhancing anaerobic performance, and the fact that sleep deprivation strongly activates the body's inflammatory signaling network, the use of this supplement can be recommended for athletes in conditions of sleep deprivation and before intense activities

The Valuable Consequences of Financial Reporting Convergence towards Integrated Reporting

This paper analyzed the consequences of financial reporting convergence towards integrated reporting in Iran's capital market focusing on agency cost and cost of equity capital. In order to measure the financial reporting convergence towards integrated reporting, a checklist has been used which designed based on the international integrated reporting framework. The agency cost measured using the efficiency criterion based on the ratio of operational expenses to operational revenues. The cost of equity capital estimated based on the expected rate of return using the capital assets pricing model. The research population includes 144 firms listed in the Tehran Securities & Exchange over March 2016 till March 2021. Multivariable regression models were used to test research hypotheses. The findings showed that increase in convergence level of firms’ financial reporting with integrated reporting framework has reduced agency cost and cost of equity capital. These findings suggested that focusing on the benefits of integrated reporting through transparency and completeness of information disclosure has weakened agency conflicts and reduced agency costs. In addition, integrated reporting has reduced the cost of capital in financing decisions due to the adoption of sustainable business model from integrated thinking and the reduction of information asymmetry due to greater transparency for more informed forecasting

GOALS OF PARTICIPATION IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES

The importance of physical education in school life and for health points to the need to the better understands goal's participation of students in school education classes. This study was an attempt to investigate students' goals for participates in physical education (PE) classes. 455 random out of 72673 students of junior and senior high schools with the age range of 11 to 19 years (M=14.67). A 28-items survey was administrated to assess (a) demographics and (b) Purposes for Engaging in Physical Activity (PEPAS), on a 5-point Likert scale [23]. A panel of experts (n=10) reviewed the translated from of survey and provided feedback and comments on content validity of the instrument, and 50 student participated in pilot study. The analysis of the result indicated that the Individual development (the physiological efficiency and Psychic equilibrium) was rated the highest goal of participating in physical activity followed by the social interaction (the group interaction and cultural involvement) and the environmental coping (the spatial orientation and object manipulation). One-way Tukeys' post hoc comparison revealed significant difference between groups of subject differentiated on the basis gender age, Junior/senior high school, physical activity out of school, school team member ships, and physical activity on summer & holidays as Independent factors. The multivariate effect of these factors on some of the student's purpose was significant. The unvaried analyses showed that these factors had a significant effect on some of goals. These findings indicate the importance of ranking of students' purposes for engaging in PE classes. It is also necessary that these goals to be considered by the parents & teachers point of view

Comparison of Some Cardiovascular Risk Factors between Active and Sedentary Elderly Men

Background: One of the major problems threatening the world’s people are cardiovascular diseases, accounting for 30% of the deaths. The factors exposing people to this danger are called risk factors. Objective: This study aimed to compare the cardiovascular risk factors and C-reactive protein between active and sedentary elderly men. Methods: The study was a descriptive comparison of two groups that were conducted in Rasht city in 2015. The subjects of this study consist of 30 active elderly men and 30 sedentary elderly men who were selected non-randomly and purposefully. Inclusion criteria of research for active subjects were have regular physical activity at least six months and don’t use cigarette and pills that affect profile lipids and inclusion criteria for sedentary subjects were don’t have regular physical activity and also don’t use cigarette and pills that affect profile lipids. The measured cardiovascular risk factors of subjects include fasting blood sugar (FBS), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), glycated haemoglobinA1c (HbA1c), and C-reactive protein (CRP). The statistical methods used for data analysis are Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, t-student, and U Mann-Whitney with significance level less than 0.05. Findings: The t-student exam shows that cardiovascular risk factors, including FBS, TG, TC, HDL, VLDL, HbA1c, and CRP, in active elderly men are lower than sedentary elderly men. This difference is also statistically significant (P≤0/01). Conclusion: The study showed that cardiovascular risk factors in active elderly men are less than sedentary ones. However, 80% of active elderly men had still at least one or several cardiovascular risk factors. Keywords: Elderly, Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Active, Sedentar

The effect of 8 weeks beta-alanine supplementation and resistance training on maximal-intensity exercise performance adaptations in young males

Objectives : The aim of this study was to examine the effects of 8 weeks beta-alanine (BA) supplementation with resistance training on some components of physical fitness and body composition in young males. Methods : Twenty healthy young men volunteered to participate for the study and divided into two groups and performed 8-week resistance training while supplementing with either BA or placebo (4.8 g per day). The subjects were evaluated for 1 repetition maximum (1RM) bench press and leg press, vertical jump (VJ), anaerobic power (RAST) prior to and after training intervention. In addition, body composition variables such as percent body fat, and BMI were assessed per and post training period. Results : Both the groups showed significant increases in 1RM bench press and leg press, VJ, and anaerobic power (RAST), and also the BA supplementation group showed greater gains compared with the placebo. In addition, percent body fat decreased significantly in BA and placebo groups, while no statistically significant changes were seen in BMI for the BA supplementation group and placebo group. Conclusions : The results indicated that resistance training improved physical performance and BA supplementation induced greater gains and therefore it could be recommend to coaches and athletes who use this supplementation to greater gains in physical fitness variables

The Evolution of Meganucleases Genome Engineering Tools: an overview

Human beings today have been able to pursue goals with non-random changes in the genome of living organisms. This is the process of genetic engineering or genome editing, which involves replacing, inserting, or deleting an arbitrary genomic sequence using an artificial restriction enzyme capable of cleaving a specific part of the genome. The ability to manipulate and modify genes and functional studies as well as awareness of the molecular basis of diseases and the development of new and targeted therapies with these techniques have been created. To date, different techniques have now been developed with the ability to edit targeted genomics including Zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN) and Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) / CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9) (CRISPR/Cas9). The fusing of a zinc-finger DNA-binding domain to a DNA-cleavage domain produces artificial restriction enzymes known as Zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs). Zinc finger domains can be designed to target a specific DNA sequence which causes ZFNs to target unique sequences in complex genomes. TALENs are made by fusing a TAL effector DNA-binding domain to a DNA cleavage domain to cut DNA strands at specific locations. CRISPR/Cas9 is a bacterial immune system against viruses in which the Cas9 nucleus connects with a single-strand guide to a complementary target sequence and makes changes. In this study, we will review the evolution and various aspects of each one over time.</jats:p