This article begins by surveying the commercial structure of nineteenth-century Yazd, centring on the economic activities of its Zoroastrian inhabitants. Next, we examine the house of Mehrabān, arguing that they were intermediate figures in Persia's transition from a pre-capitalist to an inchoate capitalist mode of production. Throughout the mid- to late nineteenth century, the Mehrabāns were significant socio-economic players and precursors for later generations of prosperous, worldly Iranian Zoroastrians. Ardeshir in particular epitomised the gradual emergence of an Iranian bourgeoisie in the urban centres of Persia, specifically Yazd. Concurrently, the rise of prominent members of the Mehrabān family was intimately related to their education, ‘cultural capital’, socio-economic connections, and business ventures in Bombay as well as their constantly developing political clout in Persia and India.

Increasing fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake has a protective role against chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes. The present study aimed to validate an instrument for measuring the perception of effective factors on consumption behaviour of F&V based on Pender's health promotion model (HPM).This cross-sectional validation survey has consisted of five steps: literature review in order to plan and develop an instrument, face validity assessment, content validity assessment, reliability assessment and construct validity assessment with the cooperation of experts in health education, nutritionists and the target group (government employees). In the present study, reliability and validity of constructs were determined through Cronbach's alpha and exploratory factor analysis, respectively, in SPSS 22. The mean impact score was acceptable for 96·42 % of items in face validity. The mean scores of content validity ratio (CVR), content validity index (CVI) and reliability were 0·92, 0·97 and 0·96, respectively. According to the principal component analysis with varimax rotation, 104 items were identified in 15 factors contributing to 61·17 % of the model cumulative variance. Given the favourable scores of the research instrument in face validity, content validity and reliability as well as its ability to predict the extracted factors from the model, it can be used as a suitable instrument in future studies.

Cysticercus tenuicollis as metacestode of Taenia hydatigena is the most prevalent taeniid species in livestock. Eighty-eight C. tenuicollis samples were collected from sheep (n = 44) and goats (n = 44) of the northern Iran from 2015 to 2016. The isolated parasites were characterized by morphometric keys. The DNA of the larval stage was extracted, amplified and sequenced targeting mitochondrial 12S rRNA and Cox 1 markers. A significant difference in larval rostellar hook length was observed in 12S rRNA haplotypes. Analysis of molecular variance of 12S rRNA indicated a moderate genetic diversity in the C. tenuicollis isolates. The pairwise sequence distance of C. tenuicollis showed an intra-species diversity of 0.3–0.5% and identity of 99.5–100%. Using the 12S rRNA sequence data we found a moderate genetic difference (Fst; 0.05421) in C. tenucollis isolates collected from livestock of the northern and southeastern regions of Iran. We concluded that the genetic variants of C. tenuicollis are being undoubtedly distributing mostly in different parts of Iran. Further studies with a larger number of T. hydatigena isolates collected from various intermediate and definitive hosts are needed to study this evolutionary assumption and also to determine the apparent genetic differences observed in the studied regions.

In the present study, a 3-dimensional model was developed to investigate fluid flow in MHD micro-pumps. Initially, 3D governing equations were derived and numerically solved using the finite volume method/SIMPLE algorithm. The case study was a (MHD) micropump built in the year 2000 (channel length: 20mm, channel width: 800μm, channel height: 380μm and electrode length: 4mm). The applied magnetic flux density was 13mT and the electric current was different for various solutions (10 ~ 140mA). The numerical results were verified by experimental and analytical data for several solutions. In addition effects of magnetic field strength, electric current, geometrical parameters of the MHD micropump, electrode length and electrode location on its performance have been investigated. Finally the results has been considered and discussed.

Propagation of Gaussian X-ray laser beam is presented in collisional quantum plasma and the beam width oscillation is studied along the propagation direction. It is noticed that due to energy absorption in collisional plasma, the laser energy drops to an amount less than the critical value of the self-focusing effect and consequently, the laser beam defocuses. It is found that the oscillation amplitude of the laser spot size enhances while passing through collisional plasma. For the greater values of collision frequency, the beam width oscillates with higher amplitude and defocuses in a shallower plasma depth. Also, it is realized that in a dense plasma environment, the laser self-focusing occurs earlier with the higher oscillation amplitude, smaller laser spot size and more oscillations.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate cost effectiveness of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) versus percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stenting from Iran society perspective.

Methods: A retrospective study was carried out to estimate the annual cost and health related quality of life (HRQoL) of 109 patients who underwent coronary revascularization (PCI [n = 75] and CABG [n = 34]). A Markov model has been developed to determine the cost effectiveness of CABG compared with PCI. We used the model to calculate lifetime costs, life-years (LYs), and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) of each strategy. We also used probabilistic sensitivity analysis to test model robustness.

Results: We found that discounted QALY lived per person in CABG versus PCI group in 5 years, 10 years, and lifetime time horizon were (3.8 ± 0.13 versus 3.88 ± 0.14), (6.4 ± 0.23 versus 6.33 ± 0.22), and (8.74 ± 0.29 versus 8.33 ± 0.27), respectively. The estimated medical cost of CABG and PCI per patient in 5 years, 10 years, and lifetime time horizon were (USD 6,819 ± 765 versus 9,011 ± 1,816), (USD 8,852 ± 1,348 versus 12,034 ± 2,375), and (USD 14,037± 4,201 versus 18,798 ± 5,821), respectively. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio results showed CABG is a dominate alternative in 10 years and lifetime time horizon.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that despite higher initial cost and lower HRQoL, CABG is a cost-effective revascularization strategy compared with PCI for patients with multivessel coronary artery disease in long-term.

Lymphatic vessels (LVs) are involved in a number of physiological and pathophysiological processes such as fluid homoeostasis, immune surveillance, and resolution of inflammation and wound healing. Lymphangiogenesis, the outgrowth of existing LVs and the formation of new ones, has received increasing attention over the past decade on account of its prominence in organ physiology and pathology, which has been enabled by the development of specific tools to study lymph vessel functions. Several studies have been devoted to renal lymphatic vasculature and lymphangiogenesis in kidney diseases, such as chronic renal transplant dysfunction, primary renal fibrotic disorders, proteinuria, diabetic nephropathy and renal inflammation. This review describes the most recent findings on lymphangiogenesis, with a specific focus on renal lymphangiogenesis and its impact on renal diseases. We suggest renal lymphatics as a possible target for therapeutic interventions in renal medicine to dampen tubulointerstitial tissue remodelling and improve renal functioning.

Interaction of a linearly polarized Gaussian laser pulse (at relativistic intensity of 2.0 × 1020 Wcm−2) with a multi-layer foam (as a near critical density target) attached to a solid layer is investigated by using two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation. It is found that electrons with longitudinal momentum exceeding the free electrons limit of meca02/2 so-called super-hot electrons can be produced when the direct laser acceleration regime is fulfilled and benefited from self-focusing inside of the subcritical plasma. These electrons penetrate easily through the target and can enhance greatly the sheath field at the rear, resulting in a significant increase in the maximum energy of protons in target normal sheath acceleration regime. The results indicate that the maximum proton energy is enhanced by 2.7 times via using an assembled target arrangement compared to a bare solid target. Furthermore, by demonstration of this assembly, the maximum proton energy is improved beyond the optimum amount achieved by a two-layer target proposed by Sgattoni et al. (2012).

During the second half of the eighteenth century, the first Muslim rulers of Mysore—Haidar ‘Ali (c. 1720-82) and his son Tipu Sultan (c. 1750-99)—were amongst the first South and West Asian rulers to unleash a process of administrative, socio-economic and military protomodernisation. Haidar, a rather cautious and pragmatic autocrat who could neither read nor write, ruled within the framework of the traditional Mughal system of governance. Highly skilled in administrative, military and diplomatic realms, he initiated the proto-modernisation of the army and took some important measures towards the establishment of a central state. In turn, Tipu was an educated autocrat, fond of administrative, socio-economic, military, and technological inventions and innovations which he intended to use in the struggle against the British occupying forces in South India. In the extant literature, Tipu is either being idealised as an “enlightened” ruler or described as a pre-modern despot. Few scholars have given a balanced account of his rule by depicting both his autocratic style of leadership, as well as the pragmatic features and proto-modernising aspects of his rule. This article is concerned with the biographic and historical background of Haidar ‘Ali and Tipu Sultan and aims to furnish a concerted account of their rule by consulting fresh printed and unprinted primary sources in English, French and German.

Nano structured TiN coatings were prepared by means of active screen plasma nitriding (ASPN) method at a constant temperature of 550 °C for 5, 7.5 and 10 h under three gas mixtures of H2:N2% = 3:1, 1:1 and 1:3. In order to investigate the coating properties such as the chemical composition, surface morphology, surface topography and hardness, several analysis techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nano indentation were employed. The results indicated that the growth of the TiN film under active screen plasma nitriding deposition had a (2 0 0) preferred orientation. Moreover, it was found that N2-50%H2 atmosphere provides the highest deposition rate leading to the maximum roughness and minimum nano hardness values. Similar observation was obtained by increasing the nitriding time. Furthermore, a model was proposed for the relation between the hardness and the surface roughness of the coating in which higher surface roughness leads to lower hardness.

Most previous numerical studies on capsule dynamics in shear flow have ignored the role of membrane viscosity. Here we present a numerical method for large deformation of capsules using a Kelvin–Voigt viscoelastic model for the membrane. After introducing the model and the related numerical implementation, we present a comprehensive analysis of the influence of the membrane viscosity on buckling, deformation and dynamics. We observe that the membrane viscosity leads to buckling in the range of shear rate in which no buckling is observed for capsules with purely elastic membrane. For moderate to large shear rates, the wrinkles on the capsule surface appear in the same range of the membrane viscosity that was reported earlier for artificial capsules and red blood cells based on experimental measurements. In order to obtain stable shapes, it is necessary to introduce the bending stiffness. It is observed that the range of the bending stiffness required is also in the same range as that reported for the red blood cells, but considerably higher than that estimated for artificial capsules. Using the stable shapes obtained in the presence of bending stiffness, we analyse the influence of membrane viscosity on deformation, inclination and tank-treading frequency of initially spherical capsules. Membrane viscosity is observed to reduce the capsule deformation, and introduce a damped oscillation in time-dependent deformation and inclination. The time-averaged inclination angle shows a non-monotonic trend with an initial decrease reaching a minimum and a subsequent increase with increasing membrane viscosity. A similar non-monotonic trend is also observed in the tank-treading frequency. We then consider the influence of the membrane viscosity on the unsteady dynamics of an initially oblate capsule. The dynamics is observed to change from a swinging motion to a tumbling motion with increasing membrane viscosity. Further, a transient dynamics is also observed in which a capsule starts with one type of dynamics, but settles with a different dynamics over a long time.

Pure iron nanoparticles (NPs) are fabricated using a simple and low-cost electric arc-discharge method in ethylene glycol (EG). The effect of different arc discharge currents (10, 20 and 30 A) on the size and optical absorption of the NPs is studied. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and UV-visible spectroscopy data indicate that at the arc current of 10 A, the size of the particles is about 103 nm, and it can raise the arc current leading to larger NPs. UV-visible spectroscopy data show that the solvent gets more and more transparent with time, an effect which, sonication, proves that is related to agglomeration of the NPs. The evidence of pure Fe NPs is investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement the average size of which is about 14 nm using Scherrer’s relation. Magnetization measurements of the samples are carried out by alternating gradient force magnetometer (AGFM). These results have shown that the arc discharge method is an effective method for preparing magnetic fluids in one step and EG is the effective medium for caring Fe NPs against oxidation. Therefore, the method can pave the way for the synthesis of other NPs such as Fe, Fe-Co, Fe-Pt and iron oxide.