Background: Nanoparticles have been applied to medicine, hygiene, pharmacy and dentistry, and will bring significant advances in the prevention, diagnosis, drug delivery and treatment of disease. Green synthesis of metal nanoparticles has a very important role in nanobiotechnology, allowing production of non-toxic and eco-friendly particles.Objectives: Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was studied using pine pollen as a novel, cost-effective, simple and non-hazardous bioresource. The antifungal activity of the synthesized AgNPs was investigatedin vitro.Materials and Methods: Biosynthesis of AgNPs was conducted using pollen of pine (as a novel bioresource) acting as both reducing and capping agents. AgNPs were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. In Evaluation for antifungal properties, the synthesized AgNPs represented significantin vitro inhibitory eff ects onNeofusicoccum parvum cultures.Results: Pine pollen can mediate biosynthesis of colloidal AgNPs with an average size of 12 nm. AgNPs were formed at 22oC and observed to be highly stable up to three months without precipitation or decreased antifungal property. AgNPs showed significant inhibitory effects against Neofusicoccum parvum.Conclusion: The first report for a low-cost, simple, well feasible and eco-friendly procedure for biosynthesis of AgNPs was presented. The synthesized AgNPs by pine pollen were nontoxic and eco-friendly, and can be employed for large-scale production. The nanoparticles showed strong eff ect on quantitative inhibition and disruption of antifungal growth.

In the present world, there are many two-stage systems which provide information of inputs, outputs and intermediate measures which are imprecise, such as, (stochastic, fuzzy, interval etc). In these conditions, a two-stage data envelopment analysis or a (two-stage DEA method) cannot evaluate the e, ciencies of these systems. In several two-stage systems, the simultaneous presence of stages is necessary for the , nal product. Hence, in this paper, we shall propose the stochas-tic multiplicative model and the deterministic equivalent, to measure the e, ciencies of these systems, primarily, in the presence of stochastic data, under the constant returns to scale (CRS) assumption, by using the non-compensatory property of the multiplication operator. Then, we will use the reparative property of the additive operation to propose the additive models as well as the deterministic equivalents, to calculate the e, ciencies of two-stage systems, in presence of stochastic data, under the constant returns to scale (CRS) and variable returns to scale (VRS) assumptions. This is to illustrate that a simultaneous presence of the stages is not necessary for the , nal product and one stage compen-sates the shortcomings of another stage. Likewise, we shall convert each of these deterministic equivalents to quadratic programming prob-lems. Based on the proposed stochastic models, the whole system is e, cient if and only if, the , rst and the second stages are e, cient. Ul-timately, in the proposed multiplicative model, we will illustrate the proposed multiplicative model, by employing the data of the Taiwanese non-life insurance companies, which has been extracted from the extant literature.

Background: Iron management is essential for anemia treatment in chronic kidney disease. The reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent (RET-He) is a reticulocyte parameter that refl ects hemoglobin synthesis of newly formed erythrocytes in the bone marrow in real-time. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the role of reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent (RET-He) in predicting iron defi ciency in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Methods: Following a descriptive cross-sectional observational design, this study was conducted on 131 adult patients with CKD stages 3-5. Laboratory indices, including complete blood count, some biochemical indices, iron status, and reticulocyte indices (including RET-He), were measured. Iron defi ciency (ID) was defi ned as TSAT < 20%, where serum ferritin level > 100 ng/mL was defi ned as functional ID, while serum ferritin level <100 ng/mL was defi ned as absolute ID. Results: Nearly 42% of patients had ID. The mean concentration of RET-He in CKD patients with ID was signifi cantly lower than that of patients without ID (P < 0. 001). Based on the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve model, RET-He had a good predictive value for ID in CKD patients (AUC = 0. 762; P < 0. 001; cut-off value: 28. 15 g/L, the sensitivity of 45. 5%, and the specifi city of 100%). Serum iron, RET-He, serum albumin, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were independent risk factors to predict ID in CKD patients. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that RET-He is an appropriate index to predict ID in CKD patients.

A B S T R A C T Green city is one of the approaches to sustainable development. “green city” is an environmentally friendly city compatible with the concept of sustainable development and can be used for the welfare and security of its inhabitants. Based on the concept of a “green city,” urban managers try to have the least destructive effect on the ecosystems upon which cities rely. Green city is one of the sustainable development approaches that reduce the environmental footprint of cities. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the situation of Mashhad metropolis in terms of the objective characteristics of the green city. In this study, 14 indicators of electricity consumption per capita, green space per capita, population density, water availability, sewage availability, superior public transportation network, urban mass transportation, traffic reduction, annual production waste per capita, carbon monoxide, concentration nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide concentration, particulate matter concentration, and air quality were exerted. To determine the importance of research indicators, the Shannon entropy method, and the status of Mashhad city areas in terms of green city indicators, the VIKOR multi-criteria decision-making method has been applied. The results showed that most areas of Mashhad are average and below average in terms of green city characteristics, and only District 9 is in very good condition (0.636). Also, based on the results of this part of the research, District 5, with the value of VIKOR index of 0.969, is in the last rank in terms of objective characteristics of the green city Extended Abstract Introduction Green city is one of the approaches to sustainable development. A “Green city” is an environmentally friendly city compatible with the concept of sustainable development and can be used for the welfare and security of its inhabitants. Based on the concept of a “green city,” urban managers try to have the least destructive effect on the ecosystems upon which cities rely. Green cities constantly try to manage their environmental effects by reducing waste, increasing recycling, reducing air pollution, increasing population density, developing open urban spaces, and encouraging the development of sustainable local businesses. Green cities were first used to evaluate 30 European cities by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in 2009 with the financial support of Siemens and the aim of reducing the environmental effects of human activities in cities. In that study, eight indices of carbon dioxide, energy, construction, transportation, water, recycling and land use, air quality, and environmental governance were used. Later, the Economist Intelligence Unit, with the financial support of Siemens, evaluated the status of the green city index in 17 Latin American cities, 15 African cities, 22 major Asian cities, and 27 cities in United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In recent years, even some Western Islamic scholars have, in various publications, shown that Islam is an ecological religion. In Iran, the issue of protecting the environment has not received much attention regardless of its rich cultural and religious background and its confirmation in Article 50 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Mashhad is the second metropolis of Iran, located in North-East of Iran, and is one of the counties of Khorasan Razavi Province. According to the 2016 Iranian Population and Housing Census, its population was 3057679 people (The Vice-Presidency of Planning and Development of Mashhad Municipality). In Mashhad, due to several reasons including the presence of Imam Reza Shrine (PBUH) and arrival of millions of pilgrims per year, population growth, increased garbage production (production of 896534 tons of garbage in 2016 (The Vice-Presidency of Planning and Development of Mashhad Municipality), air pollution (increased number of unhealthy days from 46 days per year in 2015 to 88 days in 2016 for sensitive groups and 4 days of unhealthy air for all groups in 2016 (Center for Monitoring Environmental Pollutants of Mashhad Municipality) the 2025 vision of the city has paid attention to the environment in the form of five general objectives; however, just like the national level, no specific pattern for environmentally-compatible urban development, such as green city, is determined. Analysis of the green city index in Mashhad metropolis can considerably contribute to urban managers and planners in addition to providing a pattern for evaluating the present situation in other cities of Iran and improving the quality of life regardless of the current status of the urban environment in Iranian cities; we can preserve these environments as parts of the natural environment for future generations.   Methodology In terms of its goal, the present study is an applied one; in the study, drawing upon other studies and library sources and considering the conditions of Iran and the metropolis of Mashhad in terms of green city, 14 quantitative indices were exerted. To this end, the required data for the quantitative indices was gathered by library research from the relevant institutions. Next, the weights of quantitative indices were determined using Shannon's entropy. Then, using the VIKOR method of multi-criteria decision-making, the status of various districts of the metropolis of Mashhad in terms of quantitative indices of green city was determined. Finally, the map of the spatial distribution of quantitative indices was drawn using the ARC GIS software package.   Results and discussion In this study, to analyze the status of the metropolis of Mashhad in terms of green city features, 14 quantitative indices were used. Considering the value of the VIKOR index ranges from 0 to 1, various districts of Mashhad can be classified into five categories; very satisfactory, satisfactory, average, unsatisfactory, and very unsatisfactory in terms of quantitative indices of green city. The results of the current situation of Mashhad showed that in terms of objective indicators of the green city, District 9 of Mashhad metropolis with a value of VIKOR index of 0.056 is in first place, and the seventh region with a value of VIKOR index of 0.433 is in second place. Also, based on the results of this part of the research, District 5, with the value of VIKOR index of 0.969, is in the last rank in terms of objective characteristics of the green city.   Conclusion Similarly, the results of studies by Afshar (2011) and Shabani et al. (2017) on Tehran metropolis are indicative of the unsatisfactory situation of Tehran (the biggest metropolis of Iran) in terms of green city features. Comparing the results of the studies by Afshar (2011) and Shabani et al. (2017) with the present study on Mashhad (the second biggest metropolis of Iran) reveals the necessity for a comprehensive plan toward achieving green cities. It should be mentioned that, due to the specific conditions of Mashhad metropolis and availability or unavailability of the required data, the indices used in the present study are somewhat different from the ones used by Afshar (2011) and Shabani et al. (2017).   Funding There is no funding support.   Authors’ Contribution All of the authors approved the content of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work.     Conflict of Interest Authors declared no conflict of interest.   Acknowledgments We are grateful to all the scientific

In a Prospective study over one year 326 infants with jaundice admitted in chilren Hospital of Gorgan.19 of 326 jaundiced newborn had G6PD deficiency. Thus the incidence being 5.83%. The male/femae ratio is 17.2. Jaundice began in the first 24 hr of life in 5.88% of patients and the mean maximal total serum bilirubin concentration, was 16.25 mg/dl and mean minimal Hb concentration was 15.05 g/dl. All of the patients recieved phototherapy only and none of them need exchange transfusion for treatment of hyperbilirubinemia.In conclusion G6PD deficiency should be considered in he differential diagnosis of hyprebilirubinemia in the first 48 hr of life in the spite of normal Hb concentration, and the incidence of G6PD deficency here is less than that was reported in jaundiced newborn in Ahwaz city in south of Iran.

The cross-e ciency ranking method is a well-known method in DEA which is frequently used under the constant returns to scale assumption; while various applications exist based on the variable returns to scale (VRS). This is due to the presence of negative input-oriented VRS cross-e ciencies. In this paper, each cross-e ciency is replaced by an equivalent distance measure as ine ciency measure. Then, the cross-ine ciency method is developed under the VRS assumption.

This paper examines the work of Immanuel Kant in the light of a new theory on the nature of truth, knowledge and falsehood (the Inversion Theory of Truth). Kant’s idea that knowledge could be absolutely certain, and that its truth must correspond with reality, is discredited by a dissection of the Correspondence Theory of Truth. This examination of the nature of truth, as well as knowledge and falsehood, is conducted with reference to Sir Karl Popper’s writings on regulative ideas, the criterion of demarcation and the principle of falsifiability. It is argued that if truth is to be regarded as certain, it should be used to describe objects and events in the objective (noumenal) state, and that subjective knowledge must contain (and is improved by) falsehood. Perceptions and knowledge are obtained by the biological and evolutionary process of Active Subjectivism. Ideas we have knowledge of can be metaphysical or scientific, according to Popper’s Criterion of Demarcation. Kant’s “Copernican revolution” claim that our intellect imposes absolutely true laws on nature could not allow for the possibility that ideas might be constructed from fallible perceptions, and hence that all knowledge is uncertain. Instead, he developed a Critique of Practical Reason in which religion, though not provable through logical reasoning, could be proved by our innate moral sense, giving us a Categorical Imperative that could lead to perverse results. By rejecting the absolute certainty of a priori knowledge, and admitting a degree of essential falsehood, we arrive at a more reasonable grounding for moral behavior.