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Abstract Morbihan's disease is a rare condition characterized by chronic facial edema. While its exact cause is unknown, it is thought to involve local cutaneous vascularization and lymphatic drainage imbalance. Traditional treatment options are often ineffective, and no established efficient treatment exists. We present a case study of a 17‐year‐old male with Morbihan's syndrome who showed resistance to traditional treatments but responded well to a combination of cromolyn sodium nasal spray and oral montelukast after histopathology revealed hyperplasia of plasma cells and mast cells. This combination has not been used before for Morbihan's syndrome. Our review of the literature also provides insight for clinicians seeking to manage this condition.

Abstract Objective Activating mutation in Ubiquitin-specific peptidase (USP8) is identified to enhance cell proliferation and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion from corticotroph pituitary adenoma. We investigated the USP8 variant status in a population of Iranian people with functional corticotroph pituitary adenoma (FCPA). Moreover, a systematic review was conducted to thoroughly explore the role of USP8 variants and the related pathways in corticotroph adenomas, genotype-phenotype correlation in USP8-mutated individuals with FCPA, and the potential role of USP8 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as targeted therapies in PFCAs. Methods Genetic analysis of 20 tissue samples from 19 patients with PFCAs was performed using Sanger sequencing. Moreover, a systematic literature review was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, web of Sciences, and Cochrane databases were searched. The last search was performed on 20 September 2023 for all databases. Results In our series, we found two somatic mutations including a 7-bp deletion variant: c.2151_2157delCTCCTCC, p. Ser718GlnfsTer3, and a missense variant: c.2159 C > G, p. Pro720Arg (rs672601311) in exon 14. The Systematic review indicated USP8 variant in 35% of corticotroph adenomas, with the highest frequency (25%) in 720 code regions, p. Pro720Arg. Data regarding the impact of USP8 mutational status on clinical characteristics and outcomes in FCPAs are inconsistent. Moreover, Pasireotide as well as inhibitors of EGFR such as Gefitinib and Lapatinib, as well as USP8 inhibitors including -ehtyloxyimino9H-indeno (1, 2-b) pyrazine-2, 3-dicarbonitrile, DUBs-IN-2, and RA-9 indicated promising results in treatment of corticotroph adenomas. Conclusion Although the USP8-EGFR system has been identified as the main trigger and target of corticotroph tumorigenesis, more precise multicenter studies are required to yield more consistent information regarding the phenotype-genotype correlation and to develop effective targeted therapies.

Abstract Background To investigate the genetics of early-onset progressive cerebellar ataxia in Iran, we conducted a study at the Children’s Medical Center (CMC), the primary referral center for pediatric disorders in the country, over a three-year period from 2019 to 2022. In this report, we provide the initial findings from the national registry. Methods We selected all early-onset patients with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance to assess their phenotype, paraclinical tests, and genotypes. The clinical data encompassed clinical features, the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) scores, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) results, Electrodiagnostic exams (EDX), and biomarker features. Our genetic investigations included single-gene testing, Whole Exome Sequencing (WES), and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS). Results Our study enrolled 162 patients from various geographic regions of our country. Among our subpopulations, we identified known and novel pathogenic variants in 42 genes in 97 families. The overall genetic diagnostic rate was 59.9%. Notably, we observed PLA2G6, ATM, SACS, and SCA variants in 19, 14, 12, and 10 families, respectively. Remarkably, more than 59% of the cases were attributed to pathogenic variants in these genes. Conclusions Iran, being at the crossroad of the Middle East, exhibits a highly diverse genetic etiology for autosomal recessive hereditary ataxia. In light of this heterogeneity, the development of preventive strategies and targeted molecular therapeutics becomes crucial. A national guideline for the diagnosis and management of patients with these conditions could significantly aid in advancing healthcare approaches and improving patient outcomes.

Introduction: Paraganglioma of the urinary bladder (PUB) is an extremely rare extra-adrenal catecholamine-secreting neuroendocrine tumor, accounting for only 0.05% of all bladder tumors and 1% of all pheochromocytomas. The clinical presentation of PUB can be diverse and challenging to diagnose. Case Presentation: This case report presents a 37-year-old man with post-micturition palpitation, headache, and sweating, with no history of hematuria or other irritative urinary symptoms. Ultrasound and contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a suspicious mass in the right posterolateral wall of the urinary bladder. Despite normal functional hormonal tests, the diagnosis of PUB was confirmed after surgical enucleation and histopathological examination. Conclusion: This report emphasizes the importance of considering PUB as a differential diagnosis in patients with post-micturition symptoms and paroxysmal hypertension, as well as the need for a multidisciplinary approach in the evaluation and management of such rare and complex cases. Early recognition and surgical intervention are crucial for optimal management and favorable clinical outcomes.

Background & Aims: There are variables whose influence on the risk of tuberculosis (TB) recurrence change over time. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the time-dependent effects of these variables on the hazard of TB recurrence. Materials & Methods: In this historical cohort study, data were collected from 4,564 TB patients who were referred to the TB research center of Dr. Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Tehran, from 2005 to 2015, in order to evaluate factors affecting the hazard of TB recurrence in terms of time dependency or time constancy. Data were analyzed in STATA 14 software using a statistical test based on Schoenfeld residuals, the time-dependent effects method, and the time-varying effects model (considering time function as f (t) = t). Results: The results showed that only the impact of the variables of drug adverse effects and passive smoker were inconstant over time and had time-dependent effects, and they also influenced the hazard of TB recurrence. Also, the effect of the two mentioned variables on the hazard of TB recurrence displayed a decreasing and increasing trend with time, respectively. Conclusion: Using the time-varying effects model in the study of the hazard of TB recurrence allows evaluating the time-dependent effects of the studied variables and also can differentiate them from the time-independent variables.

In the present study, a binary biofuel blend was prepared by blending soy methyl ester (SME100) and methyl oleate (MO) SME50-M50 with diesel. The physiochemical properties of blended fuels were also investigated. The performance and emissions characteristics of all fuel blends were estimated using a common-rail direct injection (CRDI) engine. The outcomes demonstrate a reduction in brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) when enriched biodiesel is used in comparison to SME100, nonetheless by the virtue of viscosity and heating value there is an increase in the BSFC value when compared to diesel. The average BSFC values were obtained as 5.3% (E25), 10.6% (E50), 17.5% (E75), 30% (SME100) and 14.9% (SME50-M50) higher than that of diesel. BTE was found to be highest for E25 and lowest for SME100 among all the blends. NOx emissions with blended biodiesel were slightly higher than diesel on account of MO being unsaturated, resulting in shorter ignition delay. The average NOx values obtained were higher than that of diesel and the corresponding values are 2.91% (E25), 4.1% (E50), 5.8% (E75), 8.3% (SME100) and 15.8% (SME50-M50). As a result of the increased oxygen content of the fuel, the concentrations of UHC and CO depreciated with the rise in concentration of soy methyl ester and MO (SME50-M50). Currently, Euro 6.2, which is the most recent emission regulation, uses 10% biofuel (B10); however, the results of this study establishes that E25, as an alternate fuel, complies with the contemporary engines without requiring any engine modifications.

Abstract Background Primary cardiac myxofibrosarcoma is a rare and aggressive malignancy, with the majority of approaching strategies relying on case reports. This article provides insights into its diagnosis and treatment. Case Presentation This paper presents the case of a 40‐year‐old man with sudden onset hemoptysis, leading to the diagnosis of primary cardiac myxofibrosarcoma. Treatment involved open‐heart surgery to excise the left atrium tumor, followed by 6 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy. Unfortunately, brain metastasis developed, leading to the patient's death 1 year after initial diagnosis. Conclusion Primary cardiac myxofibrosarcoma remains a clinical challenge with an unfavorable prognosis. Early diagnosis through advanced imaging is crucial, and research is needed to explore innovative treatments. This case underscores the complexities of managing this rare cardiac malignancy and highlights the necessity for ongoing investigations to enhance patient outcomes.

Central nervous system Rosai Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare condition and it is just reported in 5% of 600 registered RDD cases. In previously reported patients, the intradural extramedullary spinal lesion is extremely rare. In this article, we aim to report a case of intradural extramedullary Rosai-Dorfman lesion of the lumbar spine which was managed with gross total resection. Lumbar meningioma was the pre-operative diagnosis for this patient, the final correct diagnosis of Rosai-Dorfman disease was made after histological examination. RDD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of single intradural extramedullary lesions of the lumbar spine.

In this study, an attempt was made to meta-analyzed the concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in shrimps tissue of Mediterranean Sea and health risk of consumers was estimated. Search was conducted in international databases includes Scopus, PubMed, Embase, Science Direct and Web of Science from 1 January 2010 to 20 July 2023. The random effects model used to meta-analysis of concentration of PTEs in shrimp in subgroups. In addition, non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for adults and children were calculated using target hazard quotient (THQ) and cancer risk (CR). Meta-analysis concentration of PTEs in shrimps was conducted using random effects model based on country subgroups. The rank order of PTEs based on mean (pooled) level in fillet of shrimps was Fe (15.395 mg/kg-ww) > Zn (10.428 mg/kg-ww) > Cu (6.941 mg/kg-ww) Pb (5.7 mg/kg-ww) > Ni (1.115 mg/kg-ww) > As (0.681 mg/kg-ww) > Cd (0.412 mg/kg-ww) > Hg (0.300 mg/kg-ww). THQ level in adults and children due to Cd and Pb in Italy was higher than 1 value. THQ level in adults and children due to Cu, Ni, Fe, Zn and inorganic As was lower than 1 value. CR due to inorganic As in Greece and Türkiye for adults and children was higher than 1E-6 value. Therefore, it was recommended to continuously monitor and reduce the concentration of PTEs in shrimps in Italy, Greece and Türkiye, especially.

This study aims to investigate the combined effects of oxygen addition to inlet air and utilization of 1-Hexanol, biodiesel, and diesel blends on the thermal and emission characteristics of a cylindrical furnace. The design of experiments was used based on the presence of three-composite fuels and the oxygen inlet flow as independent variables. The experimental tests were conducted on a cylindrical furnace equipped with a diesel burner. The results showed that the combustion temperature increased by up to 11 °C with the increase in the flow rate of oxygen addition. Moreover, the results indicated that with an increase in oxygen addition flow rate, the HC and CO emissions decreased by almost 33% and 18%, respectively. However, there was no significant effect on CO2 emissions. On the other hand, the amount of NOx emissions increased with oxygen addition flow rate by approximately 12.5%. According to the results, the increase in the percentage of biodiesel and hexanol caused an increase in NOx emissions and a reduction in CO and HC emissions. And, the fuel mixture with 50% diesel, 30% biofuel, and 20% 1-Hexanol (D50B30H20) had the maximum NOx emissions and the minimum HC and CO emissions in comparison with other fuel mixtures for all oxygen addition flow rates. The results also indicated that increasing the percentage of biofuels in the fuel mixture, along with an increase in the rate of oxygen addition, leads to a higher reduction rate of HC and CO emissions. Furthermore, oxygen flow rates higher than 5 liters per minute did not significantly affect the formation of CO2 emissions, but prevented the formation of NOx.

Background & Aims: COVID-19 pandemic is a serious concern of the World Health Organization and is considered the most important global health challenge. This study aimed to study the effect of health measures and social restrictions on the COVID-19 epidemic based on the susceptible-infectious-quarantine-recovered (SIQR) mathematical model. Materials & Methods: Using the SIQR model, we assessed the effect of health measures and social restrictions on the COVID-19 epidemic by considering different values for the reproductive rate parameter and constant values for the recovery rate and quarantined rate (or disease detection rate). Results: The results indicated that with increasing the level of social restrictions and health measures equivalent to 20, 40, 60, and 80%, the reproductive rate of the COVID-19 reduced from 2.5 to 2, 1.5, 1, and 0.5, respectively. Also, with increasing the levels of social restrictions and health measures, a smaller percentage of people in the community became infected. Considering the level of social restrictions equal to 20, 40, 60, and 80% during the COVID-19 epidemic, about 60, 50, 35, and 10% of the individuals were infected with COVID-19, respectively. Conclusion: The study of the impact of health measures and social restrictions on the COVID-19 epidemic will provide appropriate information on how the disease spreads and also help researchers select the proper level of these measures and restrictions to prevent further spread of COVID-19 disease.

Different approaches have been suggested for the waste heat recovery of high-temperature exhausted gas of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). In such systems, mostly gas turbine (GT) and organic Rankine cycle (ORC) are added as bottoming systems to the SOFC (Configuration 1). However, the SOFC-GT-ORC has a considerable amount of waste energy which can be recovered. In the present research, the waste energy of ORC in the heat rejection stage and the residual exhausted gas of the system were recovered by a thermoelectric generator (TEG) and a hot water unit, respectively. Then, the extra produced power in the TEG was directed to a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer and a reverse osmosis desalination unit (RODU) for hydrogen and potable water outputs. The performance of SOFC-GT, Configuration 1, and Configuration 2 was compared through a 4E (energy, exergy, exergy-economic, and environmental) analysis. In the best performance point, the exergy efficiency and unit cost of product (UCOP) of SOFC-GT were obtained as 69.41% and USD 26.53/GJ. The exergy efficiency increased by 2.56% and 2.86%, and the UCOP rose by 0.45% and 12.25% in Configurations 1 and 2. So, the overall performance of Configuration 1 was acceptable and Configuration 2 led to the highest exergy efficiency, while its economic performance was not competitive because of the high investment cost of RODU.

Considering its nature, Islamic banking requires a special type of monitoring methods in order to adapt the activities of the banking system to the principles and laws of Sharia. In this research, it has been tried to justify the necessity of sharia supervision in the banking system with jurisprudential bases such as the rule of of gharar, prohibition of usury, harm, preservation of public interests, and the lack of innocence of the rulers and numerous legal documents such as the two, four and seventy-first principles of the constitutional law. The basic as well as the existential philosophy of approving the law on banking operations without usury and other related regulations, the necessity of Sharia supervision in this field should be emphasized and examined. International Islamic financial institutions have presented solutions for the implementation of the mentioned institution in the banking system of Islamic countries, which have been implemented in most of the countries with Islamic banking structure. In Iran, during the last few years, we have witnessed the relative stabilization of a position with supervisory, executive and legislative dignity for the Sharia inspector; but the country's banking system is still at the beginning of the path until it is implemented and the results of Sharia supervision are realized. Removing obstacles and providing solutions for the implementation of Sharia supervision requires examining the jurisprudential foundations, explaining the solutions and training for its implementation, which is also the purpose of this research. In this research, the above issue has been discussed and investigated by relying on the descriptive-analytical method from the point of view of legal jurisprudence.

Abstract Background Phospholipase-associated neurodegeneration (PLAN) caused by mutations in the PLA2G6 gene is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that presents with four sub-groups. Infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy (INAD) and PLA2G6-related dystonia-parkinsonism are the main two subtypes. In this cohort, we reviewed clinical, imaging, and genetic features of 25 adult and pediatric patients harboring variants in the PLA2G6. Methods An extensive review of the patients’ data was carried out. Infantile Neuroaxonal Dystrophy Rating Scale (INAD-RS) was used for evaluating the severity and progression of INAD patients. Whole-exome sequencing was used to determine the disease's underlying etiology followed by co-segregation analysis using Sanger sequencing. In silico prediction analysis based on the ACMG recommendation was used to assess the pathogenicity of genetic variants. We aimed to survey a genotype-genotype correlation in PLA2G6 considering all reported disease-causing variants in addition to our patients using the HGMD database and the chi-square statistical approach. Results Eighteen cases of INAD and 7 cases of late-onset PLAN were enrolled. Among 18 patients with INAD, gross motor regression was the most common presenting symptom. Considering the INAD-RS total score, the mean rate of progression was 0.58 points per month of symptoms (Standard error 0.22, lower 95% − 1.10, and upper 95% − 0.15). Sixty percent of the maximum potential loss in the INAD-RS had occurred within 60 months of symptom onset in INAD patients. Among seven adult cases of PLAN, hypokinesia, tremor, ataxic gate, and cognitive impairment were the most frequent clinical features. Various brain imaging abnormalities were also observed in 26 imaging series of these patients with cerebellar atrophy being the most common finding in more than 50%. Twenty unique variants in 25 patients with PLAN were detected including nine novel variants. Altogether, 107 distinct disease-causing variants from 87 patient were analyzed to establish a genotype–phenotype correlation. The P value of the chi-square test did not indicate a significant relationship between age of disease onset and the distribution of reported variants on PLA2G6. Conclusion PLAN presents with a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms from infancy to adulthood. PLAN should be considered in adult patients with parkinsonism or cognition decline. Based on the current knowledge, it is not possible to foresee the age of disease onset based on the identified genotype.

Zinner Syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly. It is considered a rare cause of male infertility and can cause a range of clinical manifestations that may lead to significant morbidity. The diagnosis of Zinner Syndrome requires a high index of suspicion, combined with a detailed clinical evaluation and imaging studies. Ultrasonography, computed tomography, and MRI are the imaging modalities of choice for the diagnosis of this condition. Radiological evaluation also plays a crucial role in the management of Zinner Syndrome. In symptomatic cases, surgical intervention may be necessary, and radiology is essential for surgical planning and postoperative monitoring. In this case report, we describe an uncommon case of a 35-year-old patient with vague scrotal pain and discuss the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of this rare condition. Prompt and accurate diagnosis is important to prevent the potential morbidity associated with this condition, such as recurrent epididymitis, urinary tract infections, and infertility.

Background & Aims: Diagnosis and treatment of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) are very important. Hence, it is necessary to predict and diagnose these patients based on individual, demographic and clinical characteristics before starting treatment. This study aimed to predict MDR-TB in TB patients using the perceptron artificial neural networks (ANNs) model. Materials & Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on 1,050 TB patients who have been treated in Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Tehran, Iran from 2005 to 2015. Data on personal and demographic information, as well as medical data such as drug therapy, final outcome of treatment, and the diagnosis of MDR-TB, were collected from the patients' medical records. Results: The results of this study indicated that the predictive power of MDR-TB for both training and testing groups was 85% and 80%, respectively. Also, the variables of marital status, education, drug use, being imprisoned, extrapulmonary TB, history of comorbidities, AIDS, patients' age, and family size were identified as very effective factors. However, variables of residence, smoking history, contact with a TB person, pulmonary TB, drug side effects, nationality, and diabetes were found as effective factors in predicting the development of MDR-TB. Conclusion: Application of the perceptron ANNs model in the study of MDR-TB is able to create new horizons in the diagnosis of these patients due to high predictive accuracy.

مقدمه: هدف روانشناسی مثبت گرا شناسایی عوامل افزایش دهنده سلامت و بهزیستی روان است. آموزش مثبت گرا از روانشناسی مثبت برای ارتقای سلامت، رفاه، شادی و شکوفایی فراگیران استفاده می کند. شناسایی اهداف آموزشی مثبت و ادغام آنها با یادگیری مبتنی بر مغز و استفاده از آنها در مراکز آموزشی و توانبخشی موجب افزایش سلامت، رفاه و رشد فراگیران می شود.روش‌ کار: این پژوهش کیفی با روش اسنادی و مروری نظام‌مند انجام و با تکنیک تحلیل محتوا مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفت. جامعه پژوهشی شامل منابع منتشر شده و دیجیتالی مرتبط با آموزش مثبت، روانشناسی مثبت گرا و یادگیری مبتنی بر مغز است. یافته‌ها از طریق نمونه‌گیری هدفمند با استفاده از ابزارهای یادداشت‌برداری با کلیدواژه روان‌شناسی مثبت، آموزش مثبت و یادگیری مبتنی بر مغز با استفاده از کتاب‌ها و سایت‌های علمی معتبر مانند Elsevier، PubMed، Google Scholar و Science Direct از سال 2000 تا 2021 جمع‌آوری شد. داده ها با استفاده از تحلیل محتوای استقرایی مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفت و روایی آن با استفاده از نسبت روایی محتوا محاسبه شد.یافته‌ها: اهداف به‌دست‌آمده شامل پنج دسته اصلی هدفمندی، اخلاق، هویت، افزایش مهارت‌ها و عواطف و شانزده زیرمجموعه بود.نتیجه گیری: نتایج نشان داد که استفاده از این اهداف با توجه به تأثیر آموزش مثبت در پیشگیری و درمان مشکلات عاطفی، افزایش سلامت روان، کاهش افسردگی و خودکشی، دستیابی به پیشرفت تحصیلی و یادگیری، افزایش مقابله با استرس، خودکارآمدی و امید. ، بهزیستی را بهبود می بخشد و مشکلات روانی را کاهش می دهد.

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate the pooled diagnostic ability of circular RNA (circRNA) molecules for diabetes mellitus. Methods We searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for relevant studies. A total of 2070 participants, including 775 diabetic patients and 1295 healthy individuals, from five studies were included in this meta-analysis. True positive, true negative, false positive, and false negative data were extracted to calculate pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratio, and area under the receiver operating characteristics curve. The Deeks’ funnel plot was applied for publication bias assessment, Cochran’s Q test and I2 index were applied for inter-study heterogeneity assessment. Besides, a subgroup analysis was performed for determining the source of heterogeneity between studies. P value

Monitoring blood pressure, a parameter closely related to cardiovascular activity, can help predict imminent cardiovascular events. In this paper, a novel method is proposed to customize an existing mechanistic model of the cardiovascular system through feature extraction from cardiopulmonary acoustic signals to estimate blood pressure using artificial intelligence. As various factors, such as drug consumption, can alter the biomechanical properties of the cardiovascular system, the proposed method seeks to personalize the mechanistic model using information extracted from vibroacoustic sensors. Simulation results for the proposed approach are evaluated by calculating the error in blood pressure estimates compared to ground truth arterial line measurements, with the results showing promise for this method.

Background & Aims: Nowadays, with the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, millions of people have been infected with the coronavirus, and most countries in the world have been unable to treat and control this condition. The aim of this study was to estimate and predict the COVID-19 prevalence rate based on multilayer perceptron artificial neural network (MLP-ANN) model. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, based on the information of 4,372 patients with COVID-19 referred to Dr. Masih Daneshvari Hospital in Tehran, the prevalence rate of this disease was estimated. In addition, considering the role of the health measures and social restrictions, the trend of this index based on the MLP-ANN model was predicted. Results: According to the results of this study, the prevalence of COVID-19 increased by an average of 7.05 per thousand people daily during the 48 days from the onset of the epidemic, and it reached about 341.96 per thousand people. Based on the MLP-ANN model with a lack of attention to the health measures by individuals in the community and failure to reduce social restrictions by the government, the COVID-19 prevalence increased by an average of 1.03 per thousand people per day. While in the case of attention to the health measures by the people and continued social restrictions by the state, the prevalence of this disease decreased by an average of 2.13 per thousand people, daily. Conclusion: The study on the prevalence of COVID-19 disease and prediction of the trend of this index provides researchers with useful information about the role of the health measures and social restrictions in controlling this disease.

Background & Aims: Today, due to progressing technology and improving the standard of living of humans, the study of diseases has become more complex. This complexity has led to using new methods, such as the model of artificial neural networks (ANNs), to study many chronic diseases, especially tuberculosis (TB). The present study aimed to investigate the mechanism of disease relapse events by applying a multilayer perceptron artificial neural network (MLP-ANN) model among TB patients. Materials & Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined information of 4,564 TB patients treated in Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from 2005 to 2015. TB disease relapse was considered as a study event, and the relapse mechanism was investigated using an MLP-ANN model consisting of three layers. Results: Based on an MLP-ANN model comprising three layers, the power to accurately predict disease relapse in TB patients was 96%. Also, variables of family size, adverse effects of exposure to cigarette smoke, patient age, and education as very effective factors, and marital status, history of drug use, imprisonment, pulmonary TB, diabetes, and AIDS as effective factors were identified in predicting the mechanism of TB disease relapse. Conclusion: Using an ANN model in the study of TB relapse due to its flexibility and high predictive accuracy can clarify any ambiguous aspects of this disease.

Background & Aims: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory syndrome that despite global health efforts to prevent its spread, it still has high fatality rates in many countries. Materials & Methods: Based on the medical information of 4,372 COVID-19 patients referring to Dr. Masih Daneshvari Hospital in Tehran, Iran, the case-fatality rate (CFR) for COVID-19 was calculated, and the trend of this index was assessed using the artificial neural network (ANN) model. Results: In this study, the CFR for COVID-19 reduced by an average of 0.4% per day and reached 4.43% during 50 days of the epidemic onset. Predicting the daily trend of this index using ANN model also showed a very gentle downward trend. According to the prediction of this model, during the first 100 days and also the second 100 days from the COVID-19 epidemic onset, the CFR for this disease decreased by an average of 0.03% and 0.01% per day, and reached 3.87% and 3.05%, respectively, Conclusion: The use of CFR for COVID-19 and prediction of the trend of this index for the future can provide valuable information on the diagnosis of the disease severity and evaluation of the effectiveness of control and treatment strategies, as well as assessment of the health care.

Key Clinical Message Although intravascular lymphoma rarely presents with peripheral neuropathy, learning about this presentation can lead to timely diagnosis and improved prognosis in patients with intravascular lymphoma. Abstract A 64‐year‐old man presented with asymmetric paresthesia and subsequent weakness of his feet and a 10 kg weight loss over 40 days. Electrodiagnostic studies revealed distal axonal sensory‐motor polyneuropathy with ongoing axonal loss. A peroneal nerve biopsy showed intravascular proliferation of CD‐20 positive lymphocytes, which suggested intravascular large B‐cell lymphoma.

Abstract Background Giant axonal neuropathy (GAN) is a progressive childhood hereditary polyneuropathy that affects both the peripheral and central nervous systems. Disease‐causing variants in the gigaxonin gene (GAN) cause autosomal recessive giant axonal neuropathy. Facial weakness, nystagmus, scoliosis, kinky or curly hair, pyramidal and cerebellar signs, and sensory and motor axonal neuropathy are the main symptoms of this disorder. Here, we report two novel variants in the GAN gene from two unrelated Iranian families. Methods Clinical and imaging data of patients were recorded and evaluated, retrospectively. Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) was undertaken in order to detect disease‐causing variants in participants. Confirmation of a causative variant in all three patients and their parents was carried out using Sanger sequencing and segregation analysis. In addition, for comparing to our cases, we reviewed all relevant clinical data of previously published cases of GAN between the years 2013–2020. Results Three patients from two unrelated families were included. Using WES, we identified a novel nonsense variant [NM_022041.3:c.1162del (p.Leu388Ter)], in a 7‐year‐old boy of family 1, and a likely pathogenic missense variant [NM_022041.3:c.370T>A (p.Phe124Ile)], in two affected siblings of the family 2. Clinical examination revealed typical features of GAN‐1 in all three patients, including walking difficulties, ataxic gait, kinky hair, sensory‐motor polyneuropathy, and nonspecific neuroimaging abnormalities. Review of 63 previously reported cases of GAN indicated unique kinky hair, gait problem, hyporeflexia/areflexia, and sensory impairment were the most commonly reported clinical features. Conclusions One homozygous nonsense variant and one homozygous missense variant in the GAN gene were discovered for the first time in two unrelated Iranian families that expand the mutation spectrum of GAN. Imaging findings are nonspecific, but the electrophysiological study in addition to history is helpful to achieve the diagnosis. The molecular test confirms the diagnosis.

Background: The relationship between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and its cardiovascular outcomes have not been sufficiently studied. Methods: 2,986 adults with T2D from the Joslin Diabetes Center at Upstate Medical University were assessed for ADHD-like symptoms, executive dysfunction, and emotional control using the Adult Self-Report Scale V1.1 (ASRS) expanded version. Surveys were sent electronically, and clinical data were obtained from the electronic medical record. Pearson chi-square test was used for categorical variables association. When ASRS scores were the dependent variable, negative binomial regression correcting for demographic variables that were associated with the ASRS scores was used. Results: 155 (49.2%) of respondents met DSM-5 criteria for ADHD using the ASRS scores; Only ten (3.6%) of respondents had an ICD10 diagnosis of ADHD in their medical record; Forty-three (13.7%) had either a diagnosis of ADHD in the medical history or were taking medications used by people with ADHD. Higher levels of ADHD-like symptoms were found in patients with T2D compared with population norms. There was a modest association of the ASRS executive dysfunction subscale with overall cardiovascular comorbidities (p = 0.03). However, the p-value did not survive the multiple testing correction. Both ADHD-like symptoms and symptoms associated with emotional control, however, were not associated with specific cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, or with HbA1c, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, ALT, creatinine, or eGFR. Conclusion: Our results suggest that adults with T2D attending a tertiary care diabetes clinic are at risk for having ADHD-like symptoms, highlighting the importance of screening for ADHD symptoms in this specialty setting and referring undiagnosed adult patients for further assessment and treatment of ADHD. Larger studies are needed to clarify the relationship between ADHD-like symptoms, executive dysfunction, and emotional control with diabetic control and comorbidities.

Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is a growing public health concern, with rising prevalence and significant impact on individuals across age groups. This systematic review examines 24 studies investigating pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for CUD among adolescents (up to 17), young adults (18–24), and older adults (25–65). Database searches were conducted for randomized controlled trials of CUD interventions reporting outcomes such as cannabis use, abstinence, withdrawal symptoms, and treatment retention. For adolescents, interventions such as contingent rewards and family engagement have shown promise, while young adults benefit from technology-based platforms and peer support. In older adults, pharmacological adjuncts combined with counseling have shown promise in enhancing treatment outcomes. However, optimal treatment combinations remain uncertain, highlighting the need for further research. Addressing CUD requires tailored interventions that acknowledge developmental stages and challenges across the lifespan. Although promising interventions exist, further comparative effectiveness research is needed to delineate the most efficacious approaches.

Background & Aims: The development of treatment methods and increasing the survival of patients with tuberculosis (TB) has led to the complication of relationships between independent and dependent variables associated with this disease. Therefore, it is important to use new methods to model the TB process that can accurately estimate the current situation. This study aimed to model the survival of patients with tuberculosis based on the model of perceptron artificial multilayer neural network (MLP-ANN). Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, the data was collected from 2366 TB patients who were treated in Dr. Masih Daneshvari Hospital in Tehran from 2005 to 2015. To model the predictive power of survival in TB patients, an MLP-ANN model consisting of three layers was applied. Results: The results of this study showed that based on the MLP-ANN model, the correct predictive power of survival in TB patients is 88.4%. In this study, the variables of patients' age and family size as very effective variables also variables of patients’ gender, marital status, education, adverse drug effects, exposure to cigarette smoke, imprisonment, pulmonary tuberculosis, and AIDS as effective variables in predicting the survival of patients were diagnosed. Conclusion: In the model of artificial neural networks, no restrictions are considered for the data structure and the type of relationship between variables. Therefore, these models with their flexibility and high accuracy can be one of the best methods for modeling health data.

Background & Aims: The spread of the COVID-19 virus is currently considered the most important global health challenge. Therefore, it is very important to study and simulate the patterns of spread of this disease based on mathematical models. This study aimed to simulate the COVID-19 epidemic based on the SIR model, in Iran. Materials & Methods: In this study, the COVID-19 epidemic was simulated based on the susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) mathematical model. According to the parameters of this model, different scenarios for this disease were examined. Finally, the simulation of the COVID-19 epidemic based on the values of these parameters was presented for Iran. Results: According to the results of this study, with increasing the level of social restrictions and health measures, the reproductive rate of COVID-19 decreased, and also with access to effective medicines and vaccines, the recovery rate of this disease increased, and fewer people became infected. Moreover, results showed that with the continuation of social restrictions and attention to health issues by the people in Iran, the peak of COVID-19 is seen within 50 days from the beginning of the epidemic also about 5% of the population is affected by this disease. The end of the initial wave of the disease was predicted at least 100 days after the onset of the epidemic. Conclusion: A simulation study to evaluate the prevalence of COVID-19 will provide comprehensive and complete information about the role of health care measures and social restrictions to prevent the spread of this disease to health researchers.

Summary: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted gaps in health surveillance systems, disease prevention, and treatment globally. Among the many factors that might have led to these gaps is the issue of the financing of national health systems, especially in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), as well as a robust global system for pandemic preparedness. We aimed to provide a comparative assessment of global health spending at the onset of the pandemic; characterise the amount of development assistance for pandemic preparedness and response disbursed in the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic; and examine expectations for future health spending and put into context the expected need for investment in pandemic preparedness. Methods: In this analysis of global health spending between 1990 and 2021, and prediction from 2021 to 2026, we estimated four sources of health spending: development assistance for health (DAH), government spending, out-of-pocket spending, and prepaid private spending across 204 countries and territories. We used the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s Creditor Reporting System (CRS) and the WHO Global Health Expenditure Database (GHED) to estimate spending. We estimated development assistance for general health, COVID-19 response, and pandemic preparedness and response using a keyword search. Health spending estimates were combined with estimates of resources needed for pandemic prevention and preparedness to analyse future health spending patterns, relative to need. Findings: In 2019, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, US$9·2 trillion (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 9·1–9·3) was spent on health worldwide. We found great disparities in the amount of resources devoted to health, with high-income countries spending $7·3 trillion (95% UI 7·2–7·4) in 2019; 293·7 times the $24·8 billion (95% UI 24·3–25·3) spent by low-income countries in 2019. That same year, $43·1 billion in development assistance was provided to maintain or improve health. The pandemic led to an unprecedented increase in development assistance targeted towards health; in 2020 and 2021, $1·8 billion in DAH contributions was provided towards pandemic preparedness in LMICs, and $37·8 billion was provided for the health-related COVID-19 response. Although the support for pandemic preparedness is 12·2% of the recommended target by the High-Level Independent Panel (HLIP), the support provided for the health-related COVID-19 response is 252·2% of the recommended target. Additionally, projected spending estimates suggest that between 2022 and 2026, governments in 17 (95% UI 11–21) of the 137 LMICs will observe an increase in national government health spending equivalent to an addition of 1% of GDP, as recommended by the HLIP. Interpretation: There was an unprecedented scale-up in DAH in 2020 and 2021. We have a unique opportunity at this time to sustain funding for crucial global health functions, including pandemic preparedness. However, historical patterns of underfunding of pandemic preparedness suggest that deliberate effort must be made to ensure funding is maintained. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

This work focuses on daylighting performance analysis and its energy savings potential for residential building by using dynamic simulation and its experimental validation. The thermal performance of nano building material and its comparison with conventional building material has also been analyzed. The daylight factor was found in between 1 and 11% and 1–21% for the floor and wall, which is within the thermal comfort limit. The theoretical model results are compared with experimental values. The best building orientation was found to be 180° from the north or towards the south. Wind speed was found to be more than 30 kmph, which is used effectively in the natural ventilation of the building envelop. It leads to optimization of the room temperature. The heat transfer parameters, including the quantity of heat lost and gained through fabrics, thermal properties of nanomaterial have been compared with conventional building materials. The U value (heat loss coefficient) of building material defines building performance at a particular orientation. The U- values decreased to 8 times in-wall and 8.67 times in the roof of the building envelope compared to conventional building material. The model was experimentally validated, and there is close agreement between simulated and experimental daylight factor values with root mean percentage error of 1.24%. The total uncertainty in experimental measurement was found out to be 0.1421%, which is within the expectable range. Present study can be implemented in any building design with minimum modifications in any part of the world.

Background & Objective: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a condition that is associated with an increase in inflammatory markers and studies show that resistance exercise with appropriate intensity can reduce inflammation generally. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of serum glucose with Interlekin18 (IL-18) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) in Diabetic rats with progressive resistance exercise. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, 32 Wistar male rats were distributed to sedentary control, trained control, sedentary diabetic, and trained diabetic groups of 8. Diabetes was induced by Streptozotocin (55 mcg/bw-i.v.). The resistance training protocol consisted of elevating upward from a ladder with weight, supporting an overload equivalent to 5% of body weight, during 6 weeks. The data obtained were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's posthoc multiple comparison tests, and a significance level of 5% was considered. Results: According to results, serum concentrations of TNF-α and IL-18 decreased significantly in trained diabetic group compared to sedentary diabetic group after resistance training. While in the amount of TNF-α in the trained control group compared to the sedentary control group, a significant increase was observed, and in the amount of IL-18 in trained control group compared to the sedentary control group, a significant decrease was observed. But regarding the correlation between serum IL-18 concentration and glucose, only in sedentary control group, a significant correlation was observed. Conclusions: Resistance training was able to reduce TNF-α and IL-18 inflammatory markers in trained diabetic rats and improve metabolic and immune aspects in diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Background: The management of non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) disease relies on microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE). Few studies have assessed the role of micro-TESE in men with NOA in our country. Objective: The aim of the current study was to investigate the success rate of micro-TESE. Materials and Methods: This retrospective descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 463 men with NOA in Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute during September 2017 through September 2019. Sperm were retrieved and frozen according to the rapid sperm freezing protocol. After preparing the oocyte of the male partner's spouse, sperms were thawed and then entered the intracytoplasmic sperm injection process. The clinical pregnancy of individuals was confirmed via ultrasound. Demographic data were extracted from medical records. Results: The success rate of micro-TESE was 38% and successful fertilization, biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, and live birth were observed in 111 (85.4%), 29 (22.3%), 29 (22.3%) and 14 (10.7%) men, respectively. A significant difference was seen between the two groups, regarding age (p = 0.01). In addition, the mean follicle-stimulating hormone in men with positive micro-TESE was significantly lower than in men with negative micro-TESE (p = 0.02). Conclusion: The success of pregnancy in couples with NOA managed via micro-TESE was significant. The study found that the success rate of micro-TESE was higher in older men and in those with lower follicle-stimulating hormone levels.

Energy is a basic requirement for development in the world. The continuously rising demand for energy resources and the fast depletion of fossil fuel is raises researcher's concern to focus on alternative sources of energy that can replace the shortage of fossil fuels soon. Biodiesel is recognized as one of the potential alternative renewable energy fuels that can be easily available in a wide range in every part of the world. This paper reviews biodiesel's prospect and focuses on the different fuel properties (physicochemical) of 100 biodiesels from first-, second- and third-generation followed by the evaluation of CI engine characteristics. It has been observed that the fuel properties of first-, second- and third-generation biodiesel are compatible with the ASTM standards. The present paper discussed the potential of various generations of biodiesel feedstocks from production perspectives. This paper also examined many aspects of these feedstocks which include different biodiesel feedstock sources, biodiesel conversion technology, and second-generation biodiesel performance and emission characteristics. Most of the studies showed that biodiesel derived from plant feedstock is costly than diesel. Thus, more influence is to be given to non-edible sources. However, the engine characteristics are shown promising behavior with biodiesel and a slight increase in NOX is also reported on using various biodiesel.

Abstract Background Leukodystrophies are the main subgroup of inherited CNS white matter disorders which cause significant mortality and morbidity in early years of life. Diagnosis is mostly based on clinical context and neuroimaging findings; however, genetic tools, particularly whole-exome sequencing (WES), have led to comprehending the causative gene and molecular events contributing to these disorders. Mutation in Alkaline Ceramidase 3 (ACER3) gene which encodes alkaline ceramidase enzyme that plays a crucial role in cellular growth and viability has been stated as an uncommon reason for inherited leukoencephalopathies. Merely only two ACER3 mutations in cases of progressive leukodystrophies have been reported thus far. Results In the current study, we have identified three novel variants in ACER3 gene in cases with new neurological manifestations including developmental regression, dystonia, and spasticity. The detected variants were segregated into family members. Conclusion Our study expands the clinical, neuroimaging, electroencephalographic, and genetic spectrum of ACER3 mutations. Furthermore, we reviewed and compared the findings of all the previously reported cases and the cases identified here in order to facilitate their diagnosis and management.

Vitiligo is the most common cause of skin depigmentation, which relates to a wide range of psychological disorders. Stigma is defined as a negative attitude towards oneself that results from one's perception of being different from the general population. In this study, we have evaluated the quality of life and stigmatization degree among vitiligo patients. In this cross-sectional study, 323 patients with vitiligo referred to Razi Hospital, Tehran, Iran, were evaluated. All patients were asked to fill out a questionnaire containing age, gender, marital status, educational level, employment status, duration of vitiligo, location of lesions, history of underlying diseases, history of previous treatments, as well as history of depression or suicide. Quality of life and stigmatization among patients were assessed by DLQI (dermatology life quality index) and FSQ (feeling stigmatization questionnaire) questionnaires. The prevalence of moderate and severe stigmatization were 49.8 % and 13.3%, respectively. Women were significantly more stigmatized than men. The presence of vitiligo lesions on the face, hands, or forearms, previous topical and oral treatments, and prior depressive disorders were significantly associated with an increased sense of stigma. Patients with thigh or trunk lesions faced less stigmatization. Additionally, stigmatization was meaningfully related to the level of quality of life impairment. In the present study, 63% of patients with vitiligo experienced moderate to severe stigmatization levels related to gender, lesion site, history of prior treatments, and depression. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between the level of stigma sensation and the life quality disturbance.

Haloxylonplanting and developing artificial forests in arid lands is one of the important actions to combat desertification. In this research, tree planting (by Haloxylon aphyllum Iljin) in Dosangi Meybod in different methods including repairing, runoff control, pitting and planting in owed have been compared with control area. For this purpose, in each area, four 300 m transects were considered randomly - systematically, and 15 plots (10 m2) were randomly collected on each transect. In each plot, vegetation characteristics including total vegetation percentage, density, canopy cover, freshness and depth of root and soil characteristics including moisture, permeability and soil carbon storage were measured. The Shapiro-Wilk test were used to test of normality of the collected data, and were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Duncan's test. According to the results of analysis of variance, the effect of planting with different methods on crown cover, density, freshness and deep rooting of Haloxylon shrubs and the percentage of vegetation is significant at 1% level. However, its effect on permeability and soil moisture in May is significant at 1% level and on carbon storage is significant at 5% level. Increase of vegetation cover by 5.1%, density of 249.7 number per hectare, Haloxylon cover of 3.7%, freshness class 1.5, soil moisture in spring 38.1% rooting more than 3 m and permeability 8.03 cm/h was related to the planting in dry river, which had a relative success in vegetation development in this region.

An ultrasonic sonar-based ranging technique is introduced for measuring full-field railroad crosstie (sleeper) deflections. Tie deflection measurements have numerous applications, such as detecting degrading ballast support conditions and evaluating sleeper or track stiffness. The proposed technique utilizes an array of air-coupled ultrasonic transducers oriented parallel to the tie, capable of “in-motion” contactless inspections. The transducers are used in pulse-echo mode, and the distance between the transducer and the tie surface is computed by tracking the time-of-flight of the reflected waveforms from the tie surface. An adaptive, reference-based cross-correlation operation is used to compute the relative tie deflections. Multiple measurements along the width of the tie allow the measurement of twisting deformations and longitudinal deflections (3D deflections). Computer vision-based image classification techniques are also utilized for demarcating tie boundaries and tracking the spatial location of measurements along the direction of train movement. Results from field tests, conducted at walking speed at a BNSF train yard in San Diego, CA, with a loaded train car are presented. The tie deflection accuracy and repeatability analyses indicate the potential of the technique to extract full-field tie deflections in a non-contact manner. Further developments are needed to enable measurements at higher speeds.

The simultaneous impact of a building's electricity consumption and thermal performance is analyzed in this paper by taking a thermal model of a retail building located in Ranchi, India. A Baseline design of retail building having a rectangular footprint area is compared with four buildings with different footprint areas (Rectangular, T, L, H and U), in the South-West orientation. The thermal models for lighting of retail building are developed using eQuest software, and results obtained were validated experimentally. Intensity of light is reduced by 35% in baseline building corresponding to the amount of energy saved by upgrading to a T8 fluorescent fixture from a T12 fluorescent fixture. Average daylight factor of retail building in hot summer was found to be 34.80% experimentally and 28.98% through simulation. Based on energy consumption it is found that, for temperate buildings with rectangular footprints, buildings with L footprints, and buildings with H footprints are preferable when targeting net-zero energy status. The results encourage architects and engineers to work out an effective framework to enhance the use of natural illumination energy and suitable lighting according to buildings layout.

Molecular assays for detection of nucleic acids in biologic specimens are valuable diagnostic tools supporting clinical diagnoses and therapeutic decisions. Pre-analytical errors, which occur before or during processing of nucleic acid extraction, contribute a significant role in common errors which take place in molecular laboratories. Certain practices in specimen collection, transportation, and storage can affect the integrity of nucleic acids before analysis. Applying best practices in these steps, helps to minimize those errors and leads to better decisions in patient diagnosis and treatment. Widely acceptable recommendations, which are for optimal molecular assays associated with pre-analytic variables, are limited. In this article, we have reviewed most of the important issues in sample handling from bed to bench before starting molecular tests, which can be used in diagnostic as well as research laboratories. We have addressed the most important pre-analytical points in performing molecular analysis in fixed and unfixed solid tissues, whole blood, serum, plasma, as well as most of the body fluids including urine, fecal and bronchial samples, as well as prenatal diagnosis samples.

Pleomorphic hyalinizing angiectatic tumor (PHAT) is a rare tumor of the soft tissue, usually located in lower extremities. There are rarely tumors reported in other anatomic locations. Herein, we report retroperitoneal PHAT in a male patient. A 41-year-old man was referred to our clinic due to an incidentally found retroperitoneal mass. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed a solid hypoechoic lesion containing fat component and calcified elements measuring about 80*72*45 mm in the right lower quadrant (RLQ) of the abdomen. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed circumscribe lesion measuring about 60 x 48 mm with partial enhancement and fat component. In pelvic exploration, a large mass was found that had encased the right external iliac artery and vein. Therefore, the mass and its surrounding iliac vessels were excised and removed en block. Then, the external iliac vessels were reconstructed with Gortex graft. No recurrence was found in 1 month and 3 months post-operation follow up. We report a pelvic retroperitoneal PHAT as a rare location of this tumor. It seems that PHAT must be considered in differential diagnosis in patients with soft tissue tumors in the pelvic cavity.

Abstract Autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias are a group of heterogeneous early‐onset progressive disorders that some of them are treatable. We performed a 4‐year follow‐up for 25 patients who had treatable ataxia. According to our study, patients would benefit from early detection of treatable ataxia, close observation, and follow‐up.

In this study, damage detection methods of cable stayed bridges were investigated. Cable stayed bridges are flexible structures; meanwhile they are sensitive to vibrations due to their complicated and multiple vibrations modes; therefore, damage detection methods based on vibration data in cable-stayed bridges has become a challenging issue. In the present study, finite element model of Bill Emerson, Missouri cable stayed bridge was simulated in order to achieve a precise finite element model to simulate the damage scenarios in bridge and the study of them. General process includes four damage detection indices based on the modal data (mode shapes and natural frequencies) achieved by modelling structure and simulated damages and in each case the results of damage detection were presented by indices. These methods are: Enhanced Coordinate Modal Assurance Criterion (ECOMAC), Mode Shape Curvature (MSC), Modal Flexibility Index (MFI), Damage Index (DI). Some of the methods were applied in damage detection of the pervious structures and bridges. In this paper, correlative study of these methods were performed based on different damage scenarios as well as study of challenges such as different levels of random noise in the input data, incomplete modal data and low damage intensity in detection of damage in cable-stayed bridge and then, performance of the methods were assessed.

In this paper, a computationally simple approach for damage localization and quantification in beam-like structures is proposed. This method is in consonance with applying modal flexibility curvature (MFC) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Analytical studies in the literature have revealed that changes in the modal flexibility curvature can be considered as a sensitive and suitable criterion for identifying damage in the beam-like structures. Modal flexibility curvature can be calculated utilizing central difference approximation, based on entries of the modal flexibility matrix. The PSO algorithm, as a powerful optimization tool, is employed in order to minimize the error function which is formulated as an error function between the measured modal flexibility curvatures of the damaged structure and those calculated from the analytical structure. To demonstrate the efficiency of the method, two beam-like structures under different damage scenarios are studied. In addition, the robustness of presented method is investigated only when the first several modal data are available. It is observed that the proposed approach is able to localize and quantify various damage cases only by a few lower vibrational modes and also, it is low-sensitive to measurement noise.

Abstract In 2020, the SARS‐COV‐2 disease (COVID‐19) imposed huge challenges on the health, economic, and political systems, and by the end of the year, hope had been born with the release of COVID‐19 vaccines aimed at bringing the pandemic to an end. However, the COVID‐19 vaccination programs have sparked several concerns and ongoing debates over safety issues. Here, we presented three cases of patients with serious adverse events, encephalopathy, vaccine‐induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia, and leukocytoclastic vasculitis, after receiving the ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 vaccine. Therefore, it is critical to investigate and report the occurrence of adverse reactions following vaccination, particularly serious ones, as it contributes to the growing body of research and assists clinicians in better diagnosing and managing them.

Introduction: Although neurologic involvement and neuroimaging abnormalities have been frequently identified in COVID-19 patients, the underlying factors remain unclear. In this study, we assessed the association of the neurological manifestations and neuroimaging features of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with their clinical, laboratory, and imaging characteristics. Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2020 and March 2021 at two large academic hospitals in Tehran, Iran. We used census sampling from medical records to enroll hospitalized patients with a positive COVID-19 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test who underwent brain imaging due to presenting any acute neurologic symptom during hospital stay. Results: Of the 4372 hospitalized patients with COVID-19, only 211 met the inclusion criteria (35.5% with severe infection). Central nervous system and psychiatric manifestations were significantly more common in severe cases (p ≤ 0.044). Approximately, 30% had a new abnormality on their neuroimaging, with ischemic (38/63) and hemorrhagic (16/63) insults being the most common. The most frequent reasons that provoked cranial imaging were headache (27%), altered consciousness (25.6%), focal neurologic signs (19.9%), and delirium (18%). Analysis revealed a positive correlation for age, neutrophilia, lymphopenia, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) with the emergence of neuroimaging abnormalities (p ≤ 0.018). In addition, patients with new neuroimaging abnormalities had a significantly higher lung CT score than those without any pathologic findings (11.1 ± 4.8 vs. 5.9 ± 4.8, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Approximately 30% of the study population had various acute neuroimaging findings. The lung CT score, neutrophil count, and age were strong predictors of acute neuroimaging abnormalities in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

The study reports the influence of change in the heat supplied (43 J mm ^−1 to 18.5 J mm ^−1 ) on the microstructures as well as mechanical properties of weld joints obtained by welding of Duplex stainless steel 2205 using fibre laser. In-process thermal monitoring of the molten weld pool was carried out using IR pyrometer. Cooling rates (i.e. solidification and solid) were calculated from the thermo-profiles of weld pool, and it increases with the decrease in heat input. From the optical images, it is observed that columnar grains originated from the fusion zone walls and merged at the center. Since, solidification front velocity is comparable on both sides’ leads to a central edge. Ferrite phase content observed in fusion zone microstructure, increases with the increase in solid cooling rate. The result suggests that the joints fabricated at lowest heat input displayed highest tensile strength. The maximum tensile strength been reported to be 872.5 ± 10.8 MPa, and failure occurred at parent metal. Tensile strength of weld joints of DSS 2205 was found to have improved with increasing cooling rate. Higher cooling rate results in the formation of fine dendritic grains as well as higher ferrite content in the weld metal.

Risk management in construction industry in several cases is not only incomplete regarding the unification of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards, but it is also incomplete in not having a systematic and innovative method to assess the impacts of these risks on the objectives of a project. An integrated hybrid Fuzzy Inference System-Latin Hypercube Simulation for the evaluation of OHS risks in construction projects is presented in this paper. Prioritization of safety risks systematically without human interference with fuzzy inference system gives the appropriate response to the identified risks. An advanced Monte Carlo simulation is also used for the evaluation of quantitative objectives of a project. This approach allows us to get away from discrimination and simulate the risks with high impacts but with low probabilities. In order to measure the relationship between the occurrences of each of the risks impacts on project objectives, the sensitivity analysis based on Pearson correlation coefficient is used to determine the usefulness of the proposed integrated hybrid method.

This paper suggests a two-step approach for damage prognosis in long trusses in which the first step deals with locating probable damages by wavelet transform (WT) and static deflection derived from modal data with the intention of declining the subsequent inverse problem variables. And in the second step, optimization based model updating method applying Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm will be employed to quantify the predicted damages within an inverse problem. Interestingly, it is indicated that the two-step method greatly aids in declining the number of variables of the model updating process resulting in more precise results and far less computational effort. Moreover, the method is found considerably effective especially for damage prognosis of large trusses. In this regard, two numerical examples including noisy data are contemplated to assess the efficacy of the method for real practical problems. Furthermore, the validity of the second step results is investigated applying other optimizers namely Invasive Weed Optimization (IWO) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO).

Background: Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one of the most commonly diagnosed lymphomas in Western society. Today Reed-Sternberg cells are identified by positive staining of several biomarkers. The IMP3 (insulin-like growth factor II m-RNA-binding protein 3) marker is a member of the insulin-like growth factor II mRNA binding protein family that has been suggested as a diagnostic marker in some epithelial malignancies. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the expression profile of IMP3 in Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients and compare it with those with large cell lymphoma. Methods: In this study, patients diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma between 2016 and 2018 were recruited. For the control group, patients diagnosed with large cell lymphoma were chosen. Paraffin blocks were collected and cut by a microtome machine. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on the slides for the IMP3 marker, using the Envision method. The color intensity was divided into four groups, and data on age, gender, staining intensity, sampling rate, and staining pattern entered at the end of the checklists. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 19 software. The paired t-test has was employed, and a significant statistical level of 0.05 was considered in all tests. Results: In this study, 145 patients in a wide range of 5 to 84 years (the mean age = 41 ± 17 years) were studied. Fifty-three patients were diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (36.6%), 4 cases (2.8%) with anaplastic large cell lymphoma and 88 cases with (60.7%) Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Among 145 patients in the current study, 143 patients (98.6%) were positive for IMP3. IMP3 was positive in all patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and only 2 cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma were negative for this maker, in whom severe necrosis was noted. Consequently, there is not a vivid difference between Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (p-value=0.153) Conclusion: The marker is positive for Hodgkin’s lymphoma with a negative background and may be used as a supplementary marker along with CD15 and CD30 to detect neoplastic cells. However, it cannot help differentiate it from large cell lymphomas because it is also positive for non-Hodgkin lymphomas.