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Abstract Background Induction therapy with IL-2 receptor antagonist (IL2-RA) is recommended as a first-line agent in low immunological risk kidney transplant recipients. However, the role of IL2-RA in the setting of tacrolimus-based immunosuppression has not been fully investigated. Aims To compare different induction therapeutic strategies with 2 doses of basiliximab vs. no induction in low immunologic risk kidney transplant recipients as per KFSHRC protocol. Methods Prospective, randomized, double blind, non-inferiority, controlled clinical trial Expected outcomes 1. Primary outcomes: Biopsy-proven acute rejection within first year following transplant 2. Secondary outcomes: a. Patient and graft survival at 1 year b. eGFR at 6 months and at 12 months c. Emergence of de novo donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) Trial registration The study has been prospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NTC: 04404127). Registered on 27 May 2020.

Although the outcomes of ABO-incompatible (ABOi) kidney transplant recipients are quite favorable, these patients are at increased risk of early antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) and graft loss. Some studies have also shown high mortality in the ABOi group mainly due to increased risk of infections. The AMR rates have been reported anywhere from 50% in the literature. The outcomes of the ABOi kidney transplants in the Saudi population are not known. In this study, we aimed to determine the graft and patient survival in ABOi kidney transplant recipients in the Saudi population. We included all adult patients who underwent ABOi transplantation between 2007 and 2016. All patients received rituximab, therapeutic plasma exchange, thymoglobulin, intravenous antibiotics, and intravenous immunoglobulin. The maintenance immunosuppression was prednisone, mycophenolate mofetil, and tacrolimus. The data were collected from a prospectively maintained database. A total of 77 patients were included in the study. The most common blood group mismatch was A to O (44.2%), followed by B to O (26.0%) and A to B (16.9%). In the 1st year, 17% of patients developed acute cellular rejection and AMR occurred in 7.8% of patients. Two patients were diagnosed with BK nephropathy. In the 1st year, urinary tract infection occurred in 25 (32.5%) patients. No patient was diagnosed severe viral or fungal infection. In the 1st year, four grafts were lost (graft survival of 94.8%); all grafts were lost within two weeks, three due to AMR and one due to technical reason. One year patient survival was 100%. In this study of ABOi kidney transplant recipients, we observed low risks of infectious complications with excellent patient and graft survival. Our immunosuppressive protocol can be considered safe.

This study proposes a machine learning (ML) model to predict the displacement response of high-rise structures under various vertical and lateral loading conditions. The study combined finite element analysis (FEA), parametric modeling, and a multi-objective genetic algorithm to create a robust and diverse dataset of loading scenarios for developing a predictive ML model. The ML model was trained using a recurrent neural network (RNN) with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) layers. The developed model demonstrated high accuracy in predicting time series of vertical, lateral (X), and lateral (Y) displacements. The training and testing results showed Mean Squared Errors (MSE) of 0.1796 and 0.0033, respectively, with R2 values of 0.8416 and 0.9939. The model’s predictions differed by only 0.93% from the actual vertical displacement values and by 4.55% and 7.35% for lateral displacements in the Y and X directions, respectively. The results demonstrate the model’s high accuracy and generalization ability, making it a valuable tool for structural health monitoring (SHM) in high-rise buildings. This research highlights the potential of ML to provide real-time displacement predictions under various load conditions, offering practical applications for ensuring the structural integrity and safety of high-rise buildings, particularly in high-risk seismic areas.

This paper investigates the structural performance of flat double-layer grids with various constitutive units, addressing a notable gap in the literature on diverse geometries. Six common types of flat double-layer grids are selected to provide a comprehensive comparison to understand their structural performance. Parametric models are built using Rhino and Grasshopper plugins. Single- and multi-objective optimization processes are conducted on the considered models to evaluate structural mass and maximum deflection. The number of constitutive units, the structural depth, and the cross-section diameter of the members are selected as design variables. The analysis reveals that the semi-octahedron upon square-grid configuration excels in minimizing structural mass and deflection. Furthermore, models lacking a full pyramid form exhibit higher deflections. Sensitivity analyses disclose the critical influence of the design variables, particularly highlighting the sensitivity of structural mass to the number of constitutive units and cross-section diameter. These findings offer valuable insights and practical design considerations for optimizing double-layer grid space structures.

Experience shows that survivors of disasters are often not satisfied with the shelters provided by relief forces. Therefore, one of the objectives of designing temporary shelters in the study area is to identify patterns that increase the social acceptance of temporary shelters by incorporating limited-time acceptance. Increasing the social acceptance of shelters is one of the main goals of this research. Another objective of this study is to examine the role of temporary shelters in enhancing post-earthquake physical resilience, as well as utilizing indigenous architectural techniques in the design of temporary shelters to enhance environmental resilience. The patterns that need to be applied in the design of temporary shelters to meet the physical-environmental criteria can highlight the necessity of research by interpreting adaptable shelters to the cold-arid mountainous climatic conditions of the Varezqan County. One of the objectives of this research is to design a user-friendly product with high social acceptance as a temporary housing alternative during crises. To achieve these objectives, qualitative and applied analysis and simulation of energy indicators have been conducted in the Design Builder environment. In this study, pre-designed models of temporary shelters have been evaluated in the initial phase. In the second phase of the research, the proposed models are evaluated by experts. In the final stage, the selected model is introduced from the perspective of experts, with an explanation of the optimal physical-environmental patterns as a shelter. The findings of the research indicate that environmental indicators such as safety, hygiene, evoking a sense of home, environmental comfort, cultural compatibility, zoning, etc., as well as physical indicators such as weather-resistant structural form, weather-resistant materials, expandable and modular structure, easy and quick installation, and compliance with dimensions and standards are influential factors in selecting the optimal shelter according to experts.

Background & Aim: Reduced quality of life and self-efficacy are among problems of mothers of children with chronic diseases. This study aimed to determine the effect of empowerment based on the Gibson model on self-efficacy and quality of life in the mothers of children with thalassemia. Methods & Materials: In this quasi-experimental study, the study population were the mothers of children with thalassemia referred to rare disease clinics in Rafsanjan and Kerman in 2020. The sample size was 25. Mothers were selected by the convenience sampling method and divided into two groups. In the intervention group, mothers participated in five training sessions based on the Gibson model, and in the control group, mothers received routine care. Data collection tools included the Zhang’s self-efficacy questionnaire and the SF-36 which were completed before the intervention and six weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed using chi-square test, independent and paired t-test via the SPSS software version 18. Results: Before the intervention, the mean score of self-efficacy (P=0.31) and quality of life (P=0.47) were not statistically significant between the groups, but after the intervention, the mean score of self-efficacy in the intervention group (68.81±9.36) was significantly higher than that of in the control group (44.69±6.87) (P

Parametric form findings of free-form space structures and qualitative assessment of their aesthetics are among the concerns of architects. This study aims to evaluate the aesthetic aspect of these structures using ML algorithms based on the expert’s experiences. First, various datasets of forms were produced using a parametric algorithm of free-form space structures written in Grasshopper. Then, three multilayer perceptron ANN models were adjusted in their most optimal modes using the results of the preference test based on the aesthetic criteria including simplicity, complexity, and practicality. The results indicate that the ANN models can quantitatively evaluate the aesthetic value of free-form space structures.

With the increasing development of universities and institutions of higher education, student satisfaction is one of the most critical issues for their acceptance to new areas, the main feature of which is the competition to attract and retain students. Despite numerous studies on student satisfaction, more conceptual and methodological understanding is needed to increase the explanatory and predictive power of student satisfaction modes. The first objective of this study is to use artificial neural networks (ANN) to measure the components of student satisfaction. The second goal is to explain the specific components of academic students' Academic Satisfaction through the SEM-ANN combination. Data were collected from 420 graduate students at Tabriz Islamic Art University. The research model was Obtained through a multi-analytic Including structural equation modeling (SEM) and ANN. We used the results of SEM as input to the ANN model to develop a predictive model of Academic Satisfaction of architecture students. Based on the SEM results, we found that the components of educational services (0.99), sociocultural (0.95), and perceptions (0.85) are the most critical components affecting the Academic Satisfaction of architecture students. At the same time, the economic-entrepreneurial component (0.37) has little effect on the Academic Satisfaction of architecture students. The analytical results in ANN using the multi-layer perceptron model led to the explanation of a model with high predictability of components of Academic Satisfaction of architecture students. The findings of this study can be critical, and valuable for universities in predicting students' Academic Satisfaction. The results of this study enable universities to predict the extent of its impact on student satisfaction before formulating their programs, and to cover the stimuli affecting students' Academic Satisfaction with appropriate measures. As a result, it is increasing students' Academic Satisfaction.

Purpose: This study aimed to improve the pharmacokinetic behavior of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) oxidation to enhance oxidative stability for inhibiting formation of toxic hydroperoxides, develops off-flavors and shortens shelf-life. Methods: Nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) co-encapsulating omega-3 fish oil and α-tocopherol was successfully prepared by melt blending and hot sonication method to enhance the oxidative stability of the fish oil. Encapsulation efficiency (EE) and in vitro release, the oxidative stability of prepared nanoparticles (NPs) were measured using detection of peroxide value (PV) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) during 40 days. Results: Electron microscopy and particle size analysis showed dispersed and homogenous NPs with an average diameter of 119 nm. Sustained oil release at a physiologic pH, and longterm stability in terms of the size, zeta, and dispersity of NPs was achieved after 75 days of storage. The omega-3 fish oil co-encapsulated with α-tocopherol in the NLC possessed better oxidative stability compared with the all other formulations. Also, it was found that the NLC as an encapsulation method was more successful to inhibit the formation of the primary oxidation products than the secondary oxidation products. Conclusion: Generally, these findings indicated that co-encapsulation of fish oil and α-tocopherol within the NLC can be a suitable delivery system in order to enrich foodstuffs, in particular clear beverages.

This study was carried out in Loveh forest, north of Iran. We measured the quantitative characteristics of seedlings including collar diameter (measured at 1 cm above the soil surface), height, and current annual height increment and calculated the mean annual increments of height and diameter. Ten gaps with the same climatic, edaphic and topographic conditions were selected. In each gap, two transects, 2 m wide, were laid along the longest (North-South) and the shortest (West-East) axis. Nine sampling microplots, 4 m2 area, were established: one at the centre, four at the edges and four under the canopy within the transects. Results showed that the highest frequency of seedlings was seen in medium-size gaps (200-500 m2). Quantitative characteristics of oak seedlings were better in small and medium-size gaps. There was a significant difference in the length of spring shoots, mean annual increment of height and mean annual increment of diameter between the species. Hornbeam, wild service and wild cherry seedlings are recommended for faster gap recovery, as the results showed that these species had the highest values of studied variables.

The existence of mechanical vibrations inside and around the industrial machinery and the constant exposure of the operators to these vibrations, increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in the operators and gradually affect their general health. The research is an attempt to investigate the effects of ergonomic interventions on the whole body vibration (WBV) of heavy machinery drivers in Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex in southern Iran. To evaluate the drivers’ exposure to WBV, a total number of 25 drivers, out of 45 drivers working in the complex, were selected. The vibration level was measured for each operator before and after the intervention using Bruel & Kjaer 4447 HAVS – Hand-Arm and Whole Body Vibration Meter. The measurements were conducted simultaneously in three axes (X, Y, and Z) in accordance with ISO 2631-1:1997. The obtained results were compared with the occupational exposure limits, recommended by the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME) of Iran, as a national standard. The data analysis was done by the independent t-test in SPSS software version 19. The obtained results revealed that prior to the intervention; the highest exposure to WBV was in the z-axis, which was the main axis of vibration entry into the drivers’ body. The results also showed that the equivalent acceleration of all vehicles exceeded the permissible limits (0.65 m/s2). The mean and maximum exposure levels were 0.66 and 0.56 m/s2 before the interventions and 0.88 and 0.63m/s2 after the interventions, which were significantly different (P

Identifying regeneration characteristics is a decisive prerequisite in forest stands management. Therefore, the objective of this research was to 1) present the most appropriate tree species for reforestation within stand gaps and 2) study the effect of relative light intensity on regeneration characteristics. Quantitative characteristics were measured in 10 gaps at district one of Loveh forest in Golestan province. Results showed differing frequencies of species depending on gap positions and relative light intensities. Except checker (Sorbus torminalis) regenerations, no significant difference was observed between mean of spring shoot length within gap positions. Annual height growth of checker was maximum for 40% relative light intensity, while the annual diameter growth of hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and wild cherry (Prunus avium) were maximum for relative light intensity ranging between 30 and 40%, respectively. No significant difference for relative light intensities was observed between other spices characteristics. Therefore, the study concludes that the highest attention should be paid to species mixtures and their ecological requirements for reforestation within the gaps.