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Construction projects account for a large percentage of national resources, but they are typically finished at a cost and time beyond the initial estimates. Building information modeling (BIM) helps coordinate and integrate design and construction efforts to achieve the ultimate benefit needed to satisfy all the stakeholders. Despite the reported benefits of BIM, the implementation of such a new technology initially entails costs and barriers that sometimes delay the benefits achieved from their use. BIM also casts suspicion on whether they are useful, thereby reducing its adoption rate. This study aims to evaluate the benefits of implementing BIM functions compared to the cost of its implementation. The results include a cost–benefit analysis (CBA) for three construction projects in Iran by conducting semi-structured interviews. Finally, despite all the limitations and shortcomings, the achieved benefits outweigh the incurred costs, and BIM implementation in these three construction projects was beneficial. One of the innovations of this study is the use of cost–benefit analysis in evaluating the benefits of BIM, which is tangible and quantitative.

Byline: Ramak. Roohipourmoallai, Shahin. Faghihi, Hooshang. Faghihi, Ali. Torkashvand, Amin. Nabavi, Marjan. Fooladi, Afsar. Farahani, Fatemeh. Bazvand, Siva. R Iyer, Nazanin. Ebrahimiadib Purpose: To compare the anatomical and refractive outcomes [...]

Nowadays, a progressive increase in the penetration of dispersed renewable energies in electricity markets has imposed many serious challenges, such as congestion of lines, customer dissatisfaction, and disassembly of nodal prices. To address these challenges, this paper looks into commercial cryogenic energy storage (CES) and electric vehicles (EV) in conjunction with distributed generations with the aim of congestion management while taking distribution locational marginal pricing (DLMP) into account. Additionally, a unique reconfiguration strategy has been considered in the formulation to maximize the efficiency of the CES and EV integration in the DLMP smoothing and ultimately social welfare maximization. An effective extension of risk-constrained stochastic programming is used to deal with uncertainty related to renewable energy sources. A conditional value-at-risk metric is employed to establish a substantial balance between anticipated gains and the susceptibility to uncertainties, offering a valuable framework for decision-making. The effectiveness of the suggested strategy was ultimately proved by the simulation on the IEEE 33-bus distribution system. The advocated reconfiguration strategy incorporating CES and EV has resulted in a 37.5% reduction in distribution line congestion compared to the initial case.

Self-excited vibrations in drill-string systems are one of the main causes of failure and efficiency reduction in drilling operations. To suppress these vibrations, an active control strategy is proposed in this article based on a distributed drill-string model. Herein, the coupled axial–torsional dynamics of the drill string are taken into account. This coupling takes place through the bit–rock interaction, consisting of the cutting and the frictional components. The drill-string model is expressed as a neutral-type delay differential equation (NDDE) with constant and state-dependent state delays and constant input delays. As a first step in the novel controller design, a compensator is designed to mitigate the reflective waves at the top side of the string, which, in turn, results in the elimination of the neutral terms and some of the constant time delays in the delay system model. This supports a simplified next step of stabilizing controller design. Second, a new method is proposed to provide sufficient conditions for exponential stability with a prescribed minimal transient decay rate. Based on these conditions, a parametric feedback control law is designed. Finally, to make the controller causal, a predictor is designed which predicts the future state by only employing top-side measurements, available in practice. A simulation-based case study reflecting real-life scenarios is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller. It is also illustrated that the controller is robust against parametric uncertainties and measurement noise.

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ABSTRACTThis paper discusses the drained static triaxial testing on granite ballast material with different amount of breakdown fouling and water content. Large-scale, 10 in., triaxial equipment was used for this [...]

Background: Non-technical skills are cognitive and social skills that are necessary for safe and efficient practices in operating theatre. These skills are inseparable parts of circulating nurses’ duties and help them have a good performance during surgical processes. Circulating nurses’ non-technical skills have not been closely measured, and much uncertainty still exists about the quality of their skills. This study aimed to assess circulating nurses’ non-technical skills.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 circulating nurses who worked in four public hospitals in Iran, during 2020. The data of demographics of the studied population were collected using a demographic questionnaire. Kalantari et al’s Circulating Practitioner’s List of Non-Technical Skills was used to assess the circulating nurses’ non-technical skills.Results: The situational awareness domain had the highest score, while leadership was the domain with the lowest mean score. There was a moderate positive relationship between the mean score of non-technical skills and the number of working years as a circulating nurse.Conclusion: Although the circulating nurses had a moderate level of non-technical skills, they had low scores in several behaviours. However, they did well in some other behaviours. Educational interventions and policymaking solutions can help improve circulating nurses’ non-technical skills.

Reliably predicting the future spread of brain tumors using imaging data and on a subject-specific basis requires quantifying uncertainties in data, biophysical models of tumor growth, and spatial heterogeneity of tumor and host tissue. This work introduces a Bayesian framework to calibrate the two-/three-dimensional spatial distribution of the parameters within a tumor growth model to quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data and demonstrates its implementation in a pre-clinical model of glioma. The framework leverages an atlas-based brain segmentation of grey and white matter to establish subject-specific priors and tunable spatial dependencies of the model parameters in each region. Using this framework, the tumor-specific parameters are calibrated from quantitative MRI measurements early in the course of tumor development in four rats and used to predict the spatial development of the tumor at later times. The results suggest that the tumor model, calibrated by animal-specific imaging data at one time point, can accurately predict tumor shapes with a Dice coefficient $>$ 0.89. However, the reliability of the predicted volume and shape of tumors strongly relies on the number of earlier imaging time points used for calibrating the model. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the ability to determine the uncertainty in the inferred tissue heterogeneity and the model-predicted tumor shape.

Iranian hard-liners are euphoric as President Hassan Rouhani (right), is under increasing pressure from public opinion and losing credibility among voters, given the dire condition of the economy. But this [...]

Purpose: Permanent prostate seed implant brachytherapy is widely adopted as a successful treatment method for prostate cancer. While radiographic planar fluoroscopy images are a well-established method to determine the location of seeds implanted in the prostate, many have investigated computed tomography (CT) to determine it. In this study, our purpose is to develop an automatic algorithm to accurately identify the seed positions, direction, and at the same time, to estimate the number of I-125 seeds implanted during the treatment procedure, as implanted seeds location is helpful information in intraoperative dosimetry in low-dose-rate (LDR) permanent prostate brachytherapy. Methods: A prostate phantom with a total of 40 I-125 implanted dummy seeds and 22 patients with a total of 1091 implanted seeds were scanned using CT imaging device with 2.5 mm slice thickness and radiography imaging. Phase congruency (PC) was performed to enhance edge detection and seed visualization. Seed detection was performed using the histogram analysis of the processed image, and the calculation of the probability of the number of separate and overlapped seeds was performed using registration process between CT and Fluoroscopy images. Results: This algorithm could successfully recognize 98.28% of the seeds without losing any image information, and therefore could correctly estimate the number of seeds, which is an essential step to maintain the high-quality treatment of prostate brachytherapy. Conclusion: While the simulation results demonstrate the capability of the proposed algorithm, it is sensitive to the imaging process due to its dependency upon the CT and radiography image fusion procedure.

The core catcher is used as a passive safety system in new generation nuclear power plants to create a space in the containment for the placing and cooling of the molten corium under various severe accidents. This research investigates the role of the core catcher in the VVER-1000 reactor containment system in mitigating the effects of core meltdown under various severe accidents within the context of the Ex-vessel Melt Retention (EVMR) strategy. Hence, a comparison study of three severe accidents is conducted, including Station Black-Out (SBO), SBO combined with the Large Break Loss of Coolant Accident (LB-LOCA), and SBO combined with the Small Break Loss of Coolant Accident (SB-LOCA). Numerical comparative simulations are performed for the aforementioned scenario with and without the EX-vessel core-catcher. The results showed that considering the EX-Vessel core catcher reduces the amount of hydrogen by about 18.2 percent in the case of SBO + LB-LOCA, and hydrogen production decreases by 12.4 percent in the case of SBO + SB-LOCA. Furthermore, in the presence of an EX-Vessel core-catcher, the production of gases such as CO and CO2 for the SBO accident is negligible. It was revealed that the greatest decrease in pressure and temperature of the containment is related to the SBO accident.

Objective: To propose a model for the coupled axial-torsional dynamics of a drilling bit with a non-uniform blade arrangement and to investigate the effects of multiple-regenerative effects and blade arrangement on the drilling vibration. Methods: The neutral-type time-delay model is used to model the drill pipes, which transfer the actuation force and torque to the bit. The employed bit-rock interaction law is a rate-independent law including both cutting and frictional effects. A novel method for determining the depth of cut, which is the key component in estimating the cutting forces, is developed to capture different phenomena, including multiple-regenerative effects. In this method, a functional description of the well surface pattern is presented to determine the depth of cut. Unlike the previous studies, the well surface pattern evolution is represented by an algebraic equation rather than a partial differential equation (PDE). Results: Illustrative simulation results are presented for a representative case study, which demonstrates the validity of the proposed model even in the presence of multiple-regenerative effects. The effect of the non-uniformly arrangement of the blades on the drilling vibration is also discussed. It is shown that the non-uniform arrangement of the cutting blades can reduce the vibration amplitude in some operating conditions. Conclusions: The proposed model can capture the coupled axial-torsional dynamics of a drilling bit with a non-uniform blade arrangement and account for multiple-regenerative effects. The non-uniform arrangement of the cutting blades can be beneficial for reducing the drilling vibration in some cases. Disregarding the multiple-regenerative effects in the model can cause a considerable modeling error.

In addition to the general benefits of conventional microgrids, provisional microgrids allow the utilization of a higher percentage of renewable sources with economic considerations, and this paper presents a new approach for controlling the frequency and ensuring stability of this type of microgrid. The proposed control technique uses the reset scheme for robust frequency regulation and the improvement of transient and lasting responses, and the fuzzy technique is used to obtain the optimal values of the reset approach coefficients. The proposed jointed robust scheme is implemented on a provisional microgrid system in which the nonlinear model of different elements is used and the uncertainty of the load due to changes in consumer behavior and the disturbance affecting the production of renewable sources in master and slave microgrids are considered. The results of the implementation of the proposed scheme show the rapid adjustment of the provisional microgrid frequency under the most severe load changes and perturbations as well as the improvement of the transient and stable behavior of the overall system.

Nanocomposites based on thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and poly lactic acid (PLA) with different weight ratios of 10:90 and 30:70 were prepared by solution method. Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (n-HA) were used to enhance the physical and mechanical properties of the alloys. To prepare the nanocomposites, the percentages of n-HA varied between 1% and 5%. Different tests were used to investigate the properties of these nanocomposites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, which was used to study the morphology of the blends, showed that there were rough morphologies in between materials, and the results of the mapping test showed that the dispersion of nanoparticles in the polymer matrix was almost good. TGA thermal degradation test showed that the presence of TPU to some extent can affect the thermal stability properties, and with the increase in this material, the thermal properties are strengthened. The crystalline behavior of the samples showed that the presence of TPU and n-HA nanoparticles had negative effects on the crystalline properties. The study of viscoelastic behaviors showed that the presence of TPU enhances the viscous behavior in the sample and decreases the glass transition temperature, while the presence of nanoparticles increases the elastic properties and glass transition temperature. Tensile test showed that the presence of n-HA has a greater effect on the mechanical properties. Dynamic contact angle analysis using water and dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent showed that the existing TPU and n-HA led to major changes in the interaction surface of scaffolds. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide analysis showed that increasing the amounts of TPU and HA increases cell viability. SEM cell interactions analysis showed that the surfaces of PLA90TPU10H5 and PLA70TPU30H5 samples are very good for the preparation of bone tissue scaffolds. Our findings indicated that the addition of n-HA into PLA/TPU blends could impart new features to the PLA matrix as a promising candidate for bone, cartilage, and tendon tissue engineering.

A phytoplasma strain associated with pot marigold phyllody disease in Fars province of Iran was identified and characterized by molecular analyses and biological studies. Nested polymerase chain reaction using universal P1/P7 primer pair followed by R16F2n/R2, confirmed the presence of phytoplasmas in the symptomatic plants only, and in Psammotettix striatusleafhopper. BLAST search, phylogenetic analysis, and virtual RFLP patterns of cloned amplicons allowed to classify the pot marigold phyllody and P. striatusleafhopper phytoplasmas in the 16SrI-S subgroup. The phytoplasma was transmitted from infected pot marigold to periwinkle plants by dodder inducing symptoms typical of phytoplasma presence. P. striatustransmitted this phyllody phytoplasma to healthy pot marigold and periwinkle plants after its collection in the infected fields or after acquisition feeding on infected pot marigold plants under insect-proof greenhouse conditions. This is the first report of 16SrI-S phytoplasma associated with phyllody of pot marigold and of a phytoplasma of this ribosomal subgroup in Iran.

ABSTRACTObjectives. This scientometric study aimed to investigate research and hot topics on unsafe behavior. Methods. The study was performed using scientometric analysis mapping tools, such as CiteSpace, Gephi, MINITAB and VOSviewer, for statistical analysis. Studies published in Web of Science were included. Results. The first study was published in 1987. The results of the study showed that the Safety Sciencejournal with 111 studies (10.45%) presented most of the published studies in this field. The USA and China were the two highest producing countries, with 289 and 229 published studies, respectively. The results of keywords and hot topics showed that between 1991 and 2000 safety climate, safety performance and modeling were ranked as the first to third most frequent words, and during 2001–2010 safety performance was removed from the list of top 10 keywords while safety climate and modeling were ranked, respectively, ninth and sixth most frequent. Finally, between 2011 and 2020, the keyword of organizational factors rose to first rank, indicating the significance of this keyword in the future. Conclusions. According to the results of the present study, it can be concluded that future studies on unsafe behavior can be conducted in the field of organizational factors.

Background: To evaluate the changes of macular vascular density in the superficial capillary (SCP) and the deep capillary plexus (DCP), foveal avascular area (FAZ), choroidal flow, and macular thickness after pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP).Methods: In this prospective interventional non-comparative case series, patients with very severe nonproliferative (NPDR) and early proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and no significant macular edema who were candidates for pan-retinal photocoagulation underwent measurement of corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) at the baseline, 1, and 6 months following completion of PRP treatment.Results: Thirty-nine eyes from 21 patients with diabetes were enrolled. Superficial and deep capillary plexus densities in the foveal and parafoveal area didn’t change significantly 1 and 6 months post-PRP (p> 0.1 in all of them). The FAZ area constricted 6 months following PRP (p= 0.075). Based on the calculated circularity index, the FAZ became significantly more circular after 6 months of follow-up (p= 0.047). Although the choroidal flow area increased after PRP this increase wasn’t statically significant neither at 1 month nor at 6 months post-PRP (p= 0.31 and 0.23, respectively).Conclusion: Although OCTA parameters were not significantly affected by PRP at both short-term (1 month) and long-term (6 months) follow-ups, the FAZ area became significantly circular after PRP may be due to redistribution of blood flow in hypoperfused foveal capillary plexus.

June 29, 2018 Iranian hard-liners are euphoric as President Hassan Rouhani (right), is under increasing pressure from public opinion and losing credibility among voters, given the dire condition of the [...]

This article proposes an active control strategy to suppress self-excited coupled axial-torsional vibrations of a distributed drill-string system while the coupling takes place through the bit-rock interaction. The drill-string model is expressed as Neutral-type Delay Differential Equations (NDDEs) with constant and state-dependent state delays and constant input delays. As a first step in the novel controller design, an implementable input transformation is introduced, resulting in the elimination of the neutral terms from the equations of motion. This supports a simplified next step of stabilizing controller design. In the second step, a new analytic method named the “Eigenvector Contradiction Method” is proposed to provide sufficient conditions to ensure that all eigenvalues have real parts less than a prescribed value. Based on this criterion, an automated parametric feedback control law is designed. A case study simulation is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.

The purpose of distributed generation (DG), unlike centralized electricity generation, is to generate small-scale electrical energy as near as possible to load centers. The optimal size and location of distributed generation sources is important in the installation of these sources to improve the technical parameters of the network, including losses, voltage profile and short circuit levels. By connecting the DG to the distribution network, the protection coordination between the protective devices is lost. To solve this problem, in this paper, a new protection coordination scheme is proposed, using directional overcurrent relays (DOCRs) and digital dual-setting directional overcurrent relays (DS-DOCRs) in the distribution network in the presence of renewable energy sources (RESs) and energy storage system (ESSs). For this purpose, a multi-stage objective function is used. In the first stage, a weighted objective function is used to optimize the size and location of the RESs in order to reduce the cost of losses, reduce the cost of increasing and decreasing the voltage, and reduce the cost of installing RESs and ESSs. In the second stage, DOCR and DS-DOCR settings optimization, which includes A and B parameters in addition to pickup current (Ip) and time dial setting (TDS) parameters, is used to restore the lost protection coordination for the minimum fault current to the maximum fault current in the shortest possible time. The simulation results on the IEEE 33-bus network in the presence of RESs, using Analytical Hierarchy Process method (AHP) and genetic algorithm (GA) and DPL programming language in DIgSILENT software, show that the total operating time of digital relays, losses and network cost are reduced, and voltage profile is significantly improved.

The prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias during general anesthesia is about 70%. In experimental studies on the antiarrhythmic effects of different agents, using anesthetic drugs that do not have any protective properties are preferable. The present study was conducted to investigate molecular mechanisms involved in the antiarrhythmic effects of ketamine/xylazine (K/X).

Byline: G. Faghihi, B. Abtahi-Naeini, Z. Nikyar, K. Jamshidi, A. Bahrami Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon inflammatory ulcerative skin disease. It is characterized by painful progressive necrosis of the [...]

Some researchers state that they are not yet able to provide a deep understanding of the underlying causes of unsafe behaviors (UBs). Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the attitudes and experiences of Iranian workers of UBs.

Purpose: Cardiac multimodal image fusion can offer an image with various types of information in a single image. Many coronary stenosis, which are anatomically clear, are not functionally significant. The treatment of such kind of stenosis can cause irreversible effects on the patient. Thus, choosing the best treatment planning depend on anatomical and functional information is very beneficial. Methods: An algorithm for the fusion of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) as an anatomical and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) as a functional modality is presented. CCTA and TTE are temporally registered using manifold learning. A pattern search optimization algorithm, using normalized mutual information, is used to find the best match slice to TTE frame from CCTA volume. By employing a free-form deformation, the heart's non-rigid deformations are modeled. The spatiotemporal registered TTE frame is embedded to achieve the fusion result. Results: The accuracy is evaluated on CCTA and TTE data obtained from 10 patients. In temporal registration, mean absolute error of 1.97 \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\, \pm \, $$\end{document}1.23 is resulted from comparing the output frame numbers from the algorithm and from manual assignment by an expert. In spatial registration, the accuracy of the similarity between the best match slice from CCTA volume and TTE frame is resulted in 1.82 \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\, \pm \, $$\end{document}0.024 mm, 6.74 \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\, \pm \, $$\end{document}0.013 mm, and 0.901 \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\, \pm \, $$\end{document}0.0548 due to mean absolute distance, Hausdorff distance, and Dice similarity coefficient, respectively. Conclusion: Without the use of ECG and Optical tracking systems, a semiautomatic framework of spatiotemporal registration and fusion of CCTA volume and TTE frame is presented. The experimental results showed the effectiveness of our proposed method to create complementary information from TTE and CCTA, which may help in the early diagnosis and effective treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

To elucidate the novel molecular cause in families with a new autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental disorder.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral eplerenone in the treatment of acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR).PATIENTS AND METHODS:Treatment-naïve patients with acute (< 3 months) and chronic (≥ 3 months) CSCR were enrolled in this prospective, nonrandomized, interventional, comparative case series. Patients with acute CSCR were either treated with oral eplerenone (acute case group; n = 16) or observed only (acute control group; n = 8). All chronic patients (chronic group; n = 25) were treated with oral eplerenone. Eplerenone was prescribed 25 mg twice per day for 3 months. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography measures, including subretinal fluid (SRF) height, subfoveal choroidal thickness (CT), central CT, central choroidal volume (CV), and total CV, were assessed at baseline and 3-month follow-up (FU) visit.RESULTS:BCVA improvement and SRF reduction at 3-month FU relative to baseline were observed in all three study groups. SRF was completely resolved in 13 patients (81.2%) in the acute case group, four patients (50%) in the acute control group, and eight patients (32%) in the chronic group. The acute case group showed greater SRF decrease relative to baseline compared to the chronic group (BCVA improvement and SRF reduction at 3-month FU relative to baseline were observed in all three study groups. SRF was completely resolved in 13 patients (81.2%) in the acute case group, four patients (50%) in the acute control group, and eight patients (32%) in the chronic group. The acute case group showed greater SRF decrease relative to baseline compared to the chronic group (P= .009), but the resolution of SRF between acute cases and an acute control group was not statistically significant (P= .076). Subfoveal CT, central CT, total CV, and central CV were significantly reduced at the 3-month FU compared to baseline in both affected and the fellow eyes in the acute case and chronic groups, whereas no change was observed in either eyes in the acute control group. At 3 months' FU, the mean logMAR visual acuity demonstrated no significant difference among the study groups (P= .08). Eplerenone was well-tolerated, and no serious side effect was detected.CONCLUSIONS:Oral eplerenone is a safe and effective treatment option for both acute and chronic CSCR. Resolution of SRF was more significant in acute CSR cases comparative to chronic cases.[[Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina.2019;50:726–733.]

Nature has inspired the design of next-generation lightweight architectured structural materials, for example, nacre-bearing extreme impact and paw-pad absorbing energy. Here, a bioinspired functional gradient structure, consisting of an impact-resistant hard layer and an energy-absorbing ductile layer, is applied to additively manufacture ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Its crystalline graded and directionally solidified structure enables superior impact resistance. In addition, we demonstrate nonequilibrium processing, ultrahigh strain rate pulsed laser shock wave peening, which could trigger surface hardening for enhanced crystallinity and polymer phase transformation. Moreover, we demonstrate the paw-pad-inspired soft- and hard-fiber-reinforced composite structure to absorb the impact energy. The bioinspired design and nonequilibrium processing of graded UHMWPE shed light on lightweight engineering polymer materials for impact-resistant and threat-protection applications.

Background.Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the foremost cause of death in the most developed societies. Plaque formation in epicardial coronary arteries and ensuing inflammation are a known pathophysiologic factor of CAD.

Monte Carlo (MC) is known to be the most accurate dose calculation method. However, MC suffers from high computational cost as a large number of particles have to be simulated to achieve the desired statistical uncertainty. Enhancing computational power by parallelizing the simulation with multiple GPU threads reduces the time required to reach the desired uncertainty in MC simulation. In this article, we present DOSXYZgpu, a GPU implementation of EGSnrc code which is written in CUDA Fortran as an algorithm. This article relies on a well validated and popular code among medical physicists, EGSnrc/DOSXYZnrc. In order to transport particles between two consecutive interactions, we developed an algorithm to handle several thousands of histories per warp. DOSXYZgpu implementation is evaluated with the original sequential EGSnrc/DOSXYZnrc. Maximum speedup of 205 times is achieved while the statistical uncertainty of the simulation is preserved. The $t$ -test statistical analysis indicates that for more than 95% of the voxels there is no significant difference between the results obtained from the GPU and the CPU.

The new ternary (Mg–Zn–Al–) layered double hydroxide (LDH) with an organic modifier-containing azo group (LDH–SHDBS) as a guest anion was prepared by a co-precipitation through one-step synthetic method. The novel electroactive polyamide (EPA) was successfully prepared by direct polycondensation reaction of azelaic acid with a new synthetic diamine 4. The structure of diamine 4was confirmed by FTIR and 1H NMR spectra. Also, polyamide/ternary LDH nanocomposites were prepared by resulting EPA and modified ternary LDH under ambient condition. The resulting data using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed ternary LDH were successfully distributed into the EPA matrix. Thermal behavior of the EPA and its nanocomposites were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG). The presence of LDH layers into EPA matrix improved thermal stability (T5, T10, char yield) in both air and nitrogen atmospheres. Also, photoisomerization and electrochemical behaviors of EPA and resulting nanocomposites were measured using UV–Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry (CV), respectively. The UV–Vis spectrum of the obtained nanocomposites showed two peaks at λmax= 422 and 480 nm related to π–π∗and n–π∗transitions of transazobenzene. Moreover, transto cisisomerization of azomoieties was studied by irradiation of the nanocomposites under 254 nm photons. The CV pattern of EPA exhibited a reversible anodic peak around 0.84 V, corresponding to the nitrogen atom of triphenylamine unit into polymer backbone that improved by incorporation of LDH–SHDBS into EPA matrix.

In the summer of 2016, a field of corn (Zea mays) in Spencer County, Indiana was observed with heavily stunted plants, and from the affected roots a large number of cysts were recovered. Soil samples were submitted to one of us (JF), who extracted the nematode cysts and sent them to the USDA-ARS, Mycology and Nematology Genetic Diversity and Biology Laboratory (MNGDBL), Beltsville, MD for morphological and molecular identification. Cysts and the recovered second-stage juveniles (J2) that were examined morphologically conformed to the measurements of Vittatidera zeaphila, the goose cyst nematode originally described from Tennessee, USA in 2010. The molecular analysis of J2 showed the sample from Spencer County matched exactly with V. zeaphilaaccording to ribosomal DNA markers ITS, 28S, and 18S, and with mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI). The nuclear marker heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) was also analyzed for the first time from the Indiana population of V. zeaphila. Similarities to existing cyst nematode sequences are reported herein. Geographically, although the county is across the Ohio River from Kentucky, the previously reported Hickman County, Kentucky location and Indiana detection are approximately 200 miles apart. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of V. zeaphilain Indiana.

To assess the noninferiority of biosimilar aflibercept (P041, CinnaGen) to the originator aflibercept (AFL, Regeneron) in terms of efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity.

Green superinsulation materials are essential for net-zero sustainable building envelopes. Realizing such potential is indispensable for simultaneously achieving carbon-sequestration and superinsulation performance. Here, we report the synthesis of a water glass-based silica aerogel exhibiting a thermal conductivity of 17.2 mW/m·K and a high porosity of 92%. We used carbon-sequestration wheat straw fiber to create a gradient cellulose-aerogel composite to improve mechanical stability. The as-prepared gradient composite exhibits a thermal conductivity of 27.1 mW/m·K and a flexural modulus of 824 MPa, while exhibiting superhydrophobicity (water contact angle of 135.4°) for the development of green building insulation materials.

Lime witches’-broom (WBDL) is a devastating disease of Mexican lime trees in southern Iran.‘CandidatusPhytoplasma aurantifolia’ is associated with the disease. Understanding the pattern of colonization and spread of ‘Ca. P. aurantifolia’ within lime trees is critical for its accurate detection during the latent period of the disease. In the present study, the distribution pattern of the WBDL phytoplasma in graft inoculated lime seedlings was investigated under greenhouse conditions and its seasonal variation of concentration in symptomless lime trees was evaluated in an infected orchard using qPCR assay. Repeated sampling from various tissues of graft-inoculated lime seedlings was carried out at various times post-inoculation. In the field, leaf samples were taken from symptomless trees in an infected orchard in March, August and December. Our results showed that after entrance into the lime seedlings, ‘Ca. P. aurantifolia’ moved downward into the roots as well as upward into the apical leaves. The concentration of phytoplasma in apical leaves showed an initial high followed by a decrease before establishment of infection and subsequent symptom appearance. The spread of the phytoplasma from root to the aerial parts was rather slow. Severe witches’ broom symptoms appeared on the grafted branches 10 months after grafting. At this time, the highest phytoplasma DNA concentration was found in descending order in stems and leaves of witches’ brooms, crown, various parts of the root, and stem bark and apical leaves of the symptomless branches. Results of the field experiment revealed that concentration of ‘Ca. P. aurantifolia’ cells in infected trees was highest in August compared to that in December and March. Our result would be useful for rapid detection of WBDL phytoplasma during the latent period of the disease.

ABSTRACT:The present article investigates the scope of applicability of the 'Reports of Subjection' (aḥādīth ʿarḍ) in determining the origin (ṣudūr), signification (dilālah), and true intention (jahat) of reports in the corpus of tradition. We cite verses of the Qur'an in examining the possibility of relying on the Qur'an in determining the authenticity of the reports in the corpus of tradition. The conclusion we arrive at is that the Qur'an cannot help in determining with certainty if a given report is authentic, in the sense of having indisputably originated in an infallible Imam of the Shiʻa faith; but it can help us conclude with confidence whether a dubious report is inauthentic. Another way in which the contents of the verses of the Qur'an can be brought to bear on the study of the reports in the corpus of tradition is in ascertaining the true intent underlying the content of a given report and the genuine meaning intended by the authority the report is purportedly quoting. Drawing on the example of the Imams in how they would invoke the Qur'an in assessing a report in the corpus of tradition, we are led to a set of parameters that we describe as 'the Qur'anic elements bearing on the verificatory process of subjecting the reports in the corpus of tradition to the Qur'an', which can effectively guide the researcher in how to proceed in ascertaining the authenticity of a given report with recourse to the Qur'an. The 'Qur'anic elements' we have enumerated are (1) the authority of the standard manuscript of the Qur'an, (2) the authority of the standard pronunciational format of the Qur'an, (3) the occasion and environment of revelation of the Qur'anic verses, (4) the time and sequence of revelation of the Qur'anic verses, (5) the context (sīyāq) of a given Qur'anic verse, (6) the apparent signification (sibāq) of a given Qur'anic verse, and (7) the multiple significations inferable from a given Qur'anic verse. The latter three are the most practically useful elements in the exercise of 'subjecting' the reports of the corpus of tradition to the Qur'an.

Microgrid and multi-microgrid are solution for integrating DGs into a system and are components of future power systems. Exploitation and frequency control in islanding mode is of special importance due to the lack of sufficient spinning reserve. Almost, DGs are connected to the microgrid through inverters and frequency deviation from an allowed threshold makes their removal from the main grid which is not acceptable for consumers and producers of the electrical power. One way for frequency control and optimized exploitation of the entire system is to connect the adjacent microgrids. Indeed, the microgrids cooperate together through exchanging their power surplus and power shortage. In this paper, a new hybrid control method based on Sugeno- and Mamdani-type fuzzy inference system to control an AC-to-AC converter connector of two adjacent microgrids has been proposed. An analytical method for controlling the converter was developed using the Sugeno. The proposed method is simple and practical and can be easily implemented. Moreover, to eliminate the steady-state error and to modify the performance of the control system, it is proposed to use a PI fuzzy controller in its outer loop. Simulation results show that the AC-to-AC converter with the proposed controlling strategy has prevented the intensive frequency deviations and has improved the frequency control in both microgrids.

Development of multicellular organisms is a very complex and organized process during which cells respond to various factors and features in extracellular environments. It has been demonstrated that during embryonic evolvement, under certain physiological or experimental conditions, unspecialized cells or stem cells can be induced to become tissue or organ-specific cells with special functions. Considering the importance of physical cues in stem cell fate, the present study reviews the role of physical factors in stem cells differentiation and discusses the molecular mechanisms associated with these factors.

AbstractThe stability of enzymes produced by halophilic bacteria under harsh conditions makes them appropriate candidates as biocatalysts. The present study focuses on hydrolysis enzymes production by halophilic bacteria from Badab-e Surt springs and investigates their lipolytic activity. First, 24 bacterial isolates were screened and selected based on different morphological and biochemical properties. Next, the production of extracellular enzymes, such as lipase, protease, amylase, and other hydrolyses were studied. Five isolates with the maximum lipolytic activity were then selected for16S rRNA gene analysis. Phylogenetic analysis of isolates showed that they belong to the class of Gamma-proteobacteria, and were most similar to the generaHalomonas, Marinobacter, Vibrio, andIdiomarina. The study of optimum growth conditions for isolates indicated that all strains were classified as moderately halophilic bacteria. The lipase-specific activity of the strains S-3, S-10, S-11, S-14, and S-18 were 63.84, 98.04, 154.63, 65.35, and 71.98 Units/mg of protein, respectively. Enzyme activity of isolates proved that isolates could be attractive options for biotechnological applications under the enzymatic processes.

The aim of this study is to emphasize a neglected aspect of the surface properties of metallic implants. The authors have investigated the effects of the different forming processes on the atomic arrangement and subsequent biological activity of the surface of titanium (Ti)-based materials. First, the authors have shown how the fabrication method can influence titanium implants’ surface grain orientations. Implants were exposed to simulated body fluid (SBF) and cell culture experiments to analyze their biological activity afterward. Pole figure and orientation distribution function measurements indicate that the main crystallographic orientation is (10-10) in the extruded sample, while (0002) is determined as the predominant crystallographic plane in the rolled sample. Grazing-angle X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analyses of the substrates after immersion in SBF show that the number and sizes, as well as morphology, of calcium phosphate crystals formed on the surface of the samples are clearly dissimilar. The biological assessments of the implants with human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells have shown that the Ti-(10-10) orientation is the favored orientation for hard tissue regeneration. This research shows how the crystallographic orientation of metallic materials can be used to improve the biological activity of biomaterials in contact with bone tissue.

Background and Objective: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with consequent cognitive impairment and behavioral deficits. AD is characterized by loss of cholinergic neurons and the presence of beta-amyloid protein deposits. Stem cell transplantation seems to be a promising strategy for regeneration of defects in the brain. Method: One of the suitable type of stem cells originated from fetal membrane is Chorion-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (C-MSCs). MSCs were isolated from chorion and characterized by Flowcytometric analysis. Then C-MSCs labeled with DiI were transplanted into the STZ induced Alzheimer disease model in rat. Results: Nissl staining and behavior test were used to assess the efficacy of the transplanted cells. Phenotypic and Flowcytometric studies showed that isolated cells were positive for mesenchymal stem cell marker panel with spindle like morphology. Conclusion: Learning and memory abilities were not improved after stem cell transplantation. C-MSCs transplantation can successfully engraft in injured site but the efficacy and function of transplanted cells were not clinically satisfied.

Macroalgae are source of various nutritious compounds such as protein, lipid, vitamin, fatty acid, amino acid, carbohydrate, mineral and other nutraceuticals. These marine bioresources also have attracted attention for their bioactive substances with antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities. In this study, three macroalgae species, Ulva linza, Sargassum vulgarand Gracilaria corticatacollected from the Persian Gulf coastlines, were evaluated for their nutritional and biological activity based on common analyses methods. Protein, lipid and ash contents were found to be high in Ulva linza(18.52%), Sargassum vulgar(4.15%) and Gracilaria corticata(24.27%), respectively, whereas maximum phenolic (783 mg/100 g dw.) and flavonoid (565 mg/100 g dw.) contents were observed in U. linza. The most abundant monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were C18:1n-9 and C18:4, respectively. Leucine and phenylalanine were found highest among the essential amino acids. S. vulgarshowed the greatest reduction activity, and the maximum total antioxidant capacity was found in U. linza. Ethyl acetate extracts of S. vulgarshowed the maximum inhibition activity against Salmonella typhimurium(11 mm), and EA extracts of U. linzashowed antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis(16 mm) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa(12 mm). The marine macroalgae examined in this study are potentially suitable sources of bioactive components for future applications in medicine and food production.

In this study, the effect of organo-modified nanoclay (OMMT) on the mechanical and thermal properties of SBS and its blend with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polystyrene was investigated. The effect of nanoclay content in the presence of LDPE or PS on the final properties of SBS was studied by tensile tester, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Addition of nanoclay affected the mechanical and rheological properties. From X-ray and DMTA results, it was found that due to more affinity between the nanoparticles and the SBS/PE blend, the 2 theta characteristic peak of nanoclay shifted to lower angles. SEM studies showed better dispersion and lower inter-particle distance of nanoparticles in SBS/PE composites in comparison with SBS/PS and SBS composites, confirming the XRD and DMTA results. It can be concluded that nanoclay acts as a compatibilizer in the SBS/LLDPE blend. TGA studies showed higher stability of SBS/PS composites compared to SBS and SBS/PE ones.

Many approaches have been developed to regenerate biological substitutes for repairing damaged tissues. Guided bone/tissue regeneration (GBR/GTR) that employs a barrier membrane has received much attention in recent years. Regardless of substantial efforts for treatment of damaged tissue in recent years, an effective therapeutic strategy is still a challenge for tissue engineering researchers. The aim of the current study is to fabricate a GBR membrane consisting of polycaprolactone (PCL)/gelatin/chitosan which is modified with different percentages of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) for improved biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and antibacterial activity. The membranes are examined for their mechanical properties, surface roughness, hydrophilicity, biodegradability and biological response. The mechanical properties, wettability and roughness of the membranes are improved with increases in β-TCP content. An increase in the elastic modulus of the substrates is obtained as the amount of β-TCP increases to 5% (145–200 MPa). After 5 h, the number of attached cells is enhanced by 30%, 40% and 50% on membranes having 1%, 3% and 5% β-TCP, respectively. The cell growth on a membrane with 3% of β-TCP is also 50% and 20% higher than those without β-TCP and 5% β-TCP, respectively. Expression of type I collagen is increased with addition of β-TCP by 3%, while there is no difference in ALP activity. The results indicated that a composite having (3%) β-TCP has a potential application for guided bone tissue regeneration.

Background. It is now suggested an association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the occurrence of coronary artery disease even in non-diabetic patients. We will determine the rate of NAFLD and its main determinants in non-diabetic patients undergoing coronary angiography.

The successful application of nucleic acid-based therapy for the treatment of various cancers is largely dependent on a safe and efficient delivery system. A dual-functionalized graphene oxide (GO)-based nanocarrier with the conjugation of aminated-polyethylene glycol (PEG-diamine) and octa-arginine (R8) for the intracellular delivery of nucleic acids is proposed. The functionalized sites are covalently co-conjugated and the PEG : R8 molar ratio is optimized at 10 : 1 to achieve a hydrocolloidally stable size of 252 ± 2.0 nm with an effective charge of +40.97 ± 1.05 and an amine-rich content of 10.87 ± 0.4 μmol g−1. The uptake of the nanocarrier in breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231, is investigated. The siRNA and pDNA condensation ability in the presence and absence of enzymes and the endosomal buffering capacity, as well as the intracellular localization of the gene/nanocarrier complex are also evaluated. Furthermore, the delivery of functional genes associated with the nanocarrier is assessed using c-Myc protein knockdown and EGFP gene expression. The effective uptake of the nanocarrier by the cells shows superior cytocompatibility, and protects the siRNA and pDNA against enzyme degradation while inhibiting their migration with N : P ratios of 10 and 5, respectively. The co-conjugation of PEG-diamine and the cationic cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) into the GO nanocarrier also provides a superior internalization efficacy of 85% in comparison with a commercially available transfection reagent. The c-Myc protein knockdown and EGFP expression, which are induced by the nanocarrier, confirm that the optimized PEG-diamine/R8-functionalized GO could effectively deliver pDNA and siRNA into the cells and interfere with gene expression.

The bursting of action potential and sparse activity are ubiquitously observed in the brain. Although the functions of these activity modes remain to be understood, it is expected that they play a critical role in information processing. In addition, the functional role of retrograde signalling in neural systems is under intensive research. Therefore, we propose a bio-inspired neural network that is capable of demonstrating these activity modes as well as shifting themselves from normal to bursting or sparse modes by changing model parameter values. Accordingly, we model diffused retrograde signalling with different activity patterns in dendrites and presynaptic neurons. Using in a three-layered spiking neural network, simulation studies are conducted using different conditions and parameter values to find factors underlying the change in firing rate of output neurons. Our findings propose the application of retrograde signalling as a known synaptic mechanism for the development of artificial neural systems to encode environmental information by different spiking modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]