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This study aims to investigate the pollution by heavy metals in the surface sediments of Hourolazim Wetland (HW) using pollution indices and statistical analysis of 16 samples from 8 stations at a distance of 50m from oil drilling sites. Based on the results, the average concentrations of Pb, Zn, V, and Cr are 40.7, 103.1, 135.5, and 115.8, respectively, which are higher than the average shale values. The results of heavy metal concentrations based on the geo-accumulation Index (Igeo) show that As, Zn, Ni, V, and Cr have low enrichment while Pb has medium enrichment, with the latter showing an alarming condition. Also, based on the contamination factor (CF), Pb with an average value of 2.03 and moderate level of pollution has the highest level of pollution warning compared with other elements. Modified contamination degree (mCd) for St3 and St4 is 1.61 and 1.56, respectively indicating low level of pollution. The enrichment factor (EF) for lead represents the average level of enrichment. Cluster analysis for the metals shows that V and Ni lie in one cluster while the rest of the metals (As, Pb, Zn, and Cr) lie in the other. Further, cluster analysis for the studied stations shows that stations St3, St4, and St7 are located in one cluster whereas, stations St1, St2, St5, St6, and St8 in another cluster that has the high compliance with the average of the combined pollution index. High correlation between some metals and sampling stations with cluster analysis provide insights into the same level of contamination and an approximate contamination source for these metals.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic significance of CA 125 in Acute Appendicitis (AA) along with the changes in its levels about clinical symptoms and lab findings. Methods: Patients referred at the emergency department of Madani hospital with the suspicion of AA and right iliac fossa pain were enrolled in this study. Preoperative CA 125 levels along with C-reactive Protein (CRP) and complete blood count were obtained. Lab findings, signs and symptoms were recorded for all the patients. Statistical analysis was conducted based on CA 125 < 16.4 U/mL and ≥ 16.4 U/mL using the logistic regression model, where variables such as fever, anorexia, CRP and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) were added to the model. Results: Of 207 patients with the mean age of 26.55 ± 0.967 years, 48.8% of them were males and 51.20% were females. 122 of the total patients had CA 125 ≥ 16.4 U/mL. Anorexia was significantly associated with increased levels of CA 125. CA 125 was 2.14 times higher in patients presenting anorexia. However, ESR, CRP and fever were not associated with the elevation of CA 125. Based on the contour plot, it was deduced that leukocytosis at its lowest and erythrocyte sedimentation rate at its highest levels is associated with the maximum concentration of serum CA 125. Conclusion: Based on the findings from this study, CA 125 cannot be considered as a reliable diagnostic variable for acute appendicitis. Levels of CA 125 may vary with the severity of AA.

Background. Olea europaea (known as olive fruit) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and many potential health benefits including gastric inflammation reduction has been shown previously. This study aimed to investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of O. europaea extract on the early histological changes in indomethacin-induced small intestinal injury model with the plasma D-lactate concentration being measured as a tool for determination of intestinal permeability. Methods. In this experimental study, two separate protective and therapeutic protocols were designed. In both experiments, male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups and either pretreated with 0, 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg/day of O. europaea extract or received the treatment after administration of indomethacin. Their small intestines were examined to compare the histological changes. The intestinal injury severity was evaluated according to the presence of eosinophils, plasma cell infiltration, edema, congestion, and hyperplasia of the crypt using a histological scoring system. Also, measured were the presence of neutrophils, decreased villus length-to-crypt depth ratio, and destructed villus architecture. The plasma concentration of D-lactate was measured as well. Results. The therapeutic use of O. europaea decreased the eosinophil, edema, congestion, and crypt hyperplasia scores compared to the control group. Although no significant difference was seen between groups of the preventive experiment in plasma cell infiltration score, villus length-to-crypt depth ratio, neutrophil infiltration, and percentage of destructed villus architecture, treatment with O. europaea caused a reduction in edema, eosinophil, congestion, and crypt hyperplasia score. In both experiments, no significant difference was seen between groups for villus length-to-crypt depth ratio, neutrophil infiltration, and percentage of destructed villus architecture. Plasma D-lactate concentration was decreased in all O. europaea-treated groups compared to the control group in the therapeutic and preventive experiments ( p < 0.01 , one-way ANOVA followed by the Dunnett test). Conclusion. O. europaea extract can be used to decrease some side effects of indomethacin on intestinal tissue and enhances the gastrointestinal function. O. europaea extract could be considered as a potential herbal supplement in the treatment of intestinal morphological injuries.

High antimicrobial and antioxidant effects of garlic make it possible to use as an effective topical cream to heal burn wound injuries. The present research was done to evaluate the burn wound healing effects of the aqueous extract of garlic on rat model. Aqueous extract was achieved from fresh garlic. Thirty healthy adult rats were subjected to burn wounding and then randomly treated with silver sulfadiazine (positive control), cream base (negative control) and garlic topical cream (0.8%, 0.4% and 0.2%). Rats were then maintained for 21 days and macroscopic and microscopic examinations were performed through the experiment. Burn wound contraction was increased in all groups of rats during the experiment period. The highest percent of burn wound contraction at day 21 was found in rats treated with 0.4% garlic topical cream (88.10%), while those treated with cream base had the lowest wound contraction (70.30%). Rats treated with 0.4% garlic topical cream showed more rapid granulation, formation of scar and healingin the macroscopic examination. Additionally, rats treated with 0.4% garlic topical cream had the higher amounts of tissue granulation with dense collagen deposition in the microscopic examination after 21 days of wounding. Burn wound healing effects of the garlic extract was not dose depended. It seems that application of 4% garlic cream is an effective way to improve the burn wound healing of rats. However, supplementary studies are needed to evaluate other effects of garlic cream on burn wound.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine morphological variations and normal parameters of the cross-sectional tibiofibular syndesmotic anatomy. Methods: Configurations of syndesmosis, anterior syndesmotic width (ASW), posterior syndesmotic width (PSW), and overlap distance, defined as the overlap of medial fibula with a drawn line from tip of anterior tubercle of incisura fibularis to the posterior tip, were measured on normal computed tomography (CT) scans of 110 cases. Results: Seventy seven male (70%) and 33 female (30%) (left: 50 and right: 60) were assessed. Mean age of the cases was 33 ± 13 (range: 15-80) years. Three different syndesmotic configurations were crescent (55.5%), rectangular (39.1 %), and semicircle (5.4 %). Overall, mean ASW, PSW, and overlap distance were 2.72, 3.98, and 1.02 mm, respectively. Upper limit of normal ASW in crescent, rectangular, and semicircle was 4.80, 4.85, and 3.89 mm, respectively. The maximum of PSW in crescent, rectangular, and semicircle was 6.25, 6.50, and 4.97 mm, respectively. There was not significant difference between syndesmotic configurations based on age (P = .69) and sex (P = .16). Conclusions: During interpreting axial CT scan to diagnose syndesmotic injuries, the normal range of parameters according to the different configurations of the tibiofibular syndesmosis should be carefully considered. Level of Evidence: Level 4

OBJECTIVE(S): This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between Farnesoid-X-activated receptors (FXR) as nuclear regulators of the antioxidant defense system as well as cardiac mitochondrial carrier proteins of UCP2 and UCP3 in cardiac damage induced by cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two male Wistar rats (200–250 g) were randomly divided into 3 experimental groups, including a control group (n=6), a sham-operated group (n=8), and a bile duct ligated (BDL) group (n=8). Four weeks after surgical intervention, biochemical assessment (AST, ALT, GGT, LDH, and ALP), histological observation, and molecular evaluation (FXR, UCP2, UCP3, BNP, Caspase3, and GAPDH) using real-time RT-PCR were performed. RESULTS: Compared with the sham-operation group, the BDL group showed a significant rise in liver enzymes of AST, ALT, GGT, LDH, and ALP. Defined fibrotic and necrotic bundles and thick reticulin fibers were also found in BDL liver tissue. Besides liver morphological alterations, left ventricles of BDL ones were also associated with defined cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, myofiber vacuolization, and clear pigmentation. Findings showed a significant up-regulation of cardiac Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) along with marked down-regulation in hepatic FXR, cardiac FXR, and cardiac UCP2 and UCP3. However, the expression of caspase 3 in the cardiac tissue was not affected by BDL operation during 4 weeks. CONCLUSION: Expression of FXR as an upstream regulator of cellular redox status, besides the non-enzymatic ROS buffering defense system of cardiac UCPs, has a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of cirrhotic-induced cardiac abnormality in rats.

Intravenous treatment exposes the neonates to extravasation due to fragile and small veins and the long period required for treatment. Extravasation is leakage of fluids, nutrition, or drugs from a peripheral intravenous which could cause tissue damage. The injured complications range from local irritation to skin necrosis and severe scar formation after the healing. Several methods have been used to control the complications of extravasation. We used an Amniotic membrane, a biological dressing, for healing the wounds. Our object in this study is to examine whether the amniotic membrane can induce healing wounds following extravasations.This prospective 13-week single-arm clinical trial study was performed on five neonates from February 2020 till May 2021 in the children's medical center of Tehran University. Neonates with any gestational age and diagnosis of the wound due to extravasation entered our study. Neonates with skin disorders and wound stages of 1 and 2 were excluded from the study. Established wounds without necrosis and infection are treated with an amniotic membrane. The amniotic membrane covers the wound, and after 48 hours, the wound is rechecked. The sequence of replacing or removing the bandages is five to seven days until healing occurs.An amniotic membrane was applied to the wounds and the average time for healing was 2.5 weeks. The average gestational age was 33.6 weeks. We did not report any adverse reaction, and healing was without scar formation.Implementing an amniotic membrane for treating wounds due to Extravasation can be a new approach. This treatment route decreases graft requirement and can be implemented by expert nurses, so in remote NICUs, its usage is easy.

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.

Introduction: The novel COVID-19 disease was presented at first in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. During COVID-19 pandemic, approaching trauma patients, whom could have COVID-19, is a challenging issue required special consideration and healthcare setting.Methods and materials: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Emtiaz hospital, the main trauma center of the south of Iran, between March 2020 and August 2020 from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trauma-related data such as the mechanism of trauma, injury pattern, and surgical intervention procedure of all the suspicious COVID-19 patients were documented. ICU admission and mortality rate were investigated as outcome variables.Results: During six months of the pandemic period, 9248 patients were referred to our referral trauma center, with 222 patients suspicious of having COVID-19 infection. Among sixty-four cases, whom were confirmed to be positive, 33 orthopedic injured patients were observed. The mortality rate of COVID-19 positive cases was 15.6 % (10 patients out of 64) and COVID-19 negative ones was 10.1 % (16 patients out of 158) which was not statistically significant (p.value:0.25). Multivariate analysis of the effect of the baseline and trauma related factors on mortality rate, showed that older age (p. value: 0.001), COVID-19 infection (p. value: 0.033), and surgical procedure (p.value:0.038) are the poor prognostic factors associated with mortality rate.Conclusion: The mortality rate of trauma patients with COVID-19 positive infection was 15.6 % (10 patients). Older age, COVID-19 infection, and surgical procedure were observed as the statistically significant prognostic factors leading to more mortality rate.Level of Evidence: III

One of the main challenges in controlling soil erosion and sediment load in desert areas is the lack of data. Therefore, estimation of soil erosion in such watersheds is possible by determining the sediment delivery ratio (SDR). The purpose of this study is comparison of the results of different methods for calculating SDR with its actual amount in arid areas and determining the best method. The study areas include 6 watersheds for calibration phase and 1 watershed for validation phase in Semnan province in the north of Iran. The volume of trapped sediment upstream the study area check-dams was calculated by evaluating the changes in the dams’ reservoirs morphological characteristics between successive events. The rain simulator method was used to obtain actual SDR. The SDR value was also calculated using 14 empirical methods. Comparison of observed and calculated SDR values indicates the different performance of the empirical methods. It is not possible to introduce one of these methods for calculating SDR in all studied basins, but due to the lowest relative error rate of the USDA-SCS (1983) model, this model was calibrated. The relative mean squared error for calibrated model was 0.2241 (low error). The results obtained by the calibrated model corresponded to about 80% to the values of the observed SDR. Finally, the relative error rate in the validation stage for the basin that was used in validation of the calibrated model was calculated as 1.17%, so the results of the calibrated model can be accepted.

Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is a well-recognized cardiac dysfunction in cirrhotic patients. Studies have confirmed the protective effects of silymarin in different types of cardiac injury. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness and molecular mechanism of silymarin against myocardial dysfunction and hypertrophy in a rat model of cirrhosis.The experiment was performed at Alborz University of Medical Sciences (Karaj, Iran) during 2020-2021. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of Sham-operated (control group for surgical procedures), Bile Duct Ligated (BDL), and two Silymarin extract (SE)-treated groups of 300 and 600 mg/Kg/day. After 28 days, serum levels of AST, ALT, GGT, and ALP, liver histopathological status, as well as cardiac mechanical function, were assessed. Cardiac βBDL was associated with a significant elevation in serum AST, ALT, GGT, and ALP, development of necrosis and fibrosis of the liver texture, increased Heart Weight and Heart Weight to Body Weight ratio, enhanced cardiac mechanical function as well as a significant up-regulation of ventricular βSilymarin treatment in higher dose attenuated cirrhosis-associated cardiac remodeling and reduced cardiac mechanical dysfunctions.

Advanced chelate compounds technology is a novel technology that introduces a new generation of chelates to deliver trace elements better by polymerization of organic acids. In the present study, the over-supplementation effect of Bonzaplex7 supplement, which is designed based on the aforementioned technology, was evaluated on milk yield of dairy Holstein cattle through two experiments. In the first experiment (exp. I), 24 primiparous dairy cows were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: (1) without over-supplementation (control); (2) daily allowance of 7 g/cow Bonzaplex7 containing Co (12 mg), Cr (3.5 mg), Cu (126 mg), Fe (56 mg), Mn (196 mg), Se (2 mg), and Zn (357 mg) (Bonzaplex7); and (3) daily allowance of the same amounts of all of the trace minerals in amino acid complex form (AA). In the second experiment (exp. II), 170 multiparous dairy cows received either 7 g/day/cow Bonzaplex7 (85 cows, test) or no additional supplement (85 cows, NS). In exp. I, the milk yields in control, Bonzaplex7, and AA were 34.30, 36.46, and 35.83 kg/day, respectively (P = 0.528). No significant differences in milk composition were detected among the groups. In exp. II, however, higher milk fat and energy-corrected milk yield were observed in test compared with NS. Both Bonzeplex7 and AA elevated the plasma concentrations of Cu, Mn, and Se. The results provided evidence that supplementing dairy cows with a combination of trace minerals which produced using the advanced chelate compounds technology has a potential to improve milk fat and to decrease disease susceptibility under stressed conditions.

In this study, the application of four evolutionary algorithms, continuous genetic algorithm (CGA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), ant colony optimization for continuous domains (ACOR), and differential evolution (DE) were considered for training and optimization of adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) to model groundwater quality variables. At first, using correlation and sensitivity analysis, the best inputs were selected to estimate electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and total hardness (TH). After that, the quality variables were modeled by simple ANFIS and the ANFIS trained by evolutionary algorithms. Finally, the models’ performances were evaluated using determination coefficient (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and sensitivity analysis. Results indicated that: 1) All the suggested algorithms improved the ANFIS performance in the modeling of EC and TH. Also, in SAR, CGA and PSO had a better performance than existing algorithms of ANFIS. 2) CGA with the most appropriate results, was the best algorithm in improving ANFIS performance for modeling the groundwater quality variables such that the amounts of R2, RMSE, and MAPE were improved by 0.14, 35.4, and 0.59 for TH, by 0.13, 226 (μmho Cm−1), 2.16 for EC, and by 0.15, 690, and 19.04 for SAR, respectively. 3) Sensitivity analysis showed that the results obtained by correlation analysis was dependable and could be used as a primary step in choosing the best input data for prediction of groundwater quality variables.

Prediction of sediment volume and sediment load is always one of the important issues for decision-makers of watershed basins. The present study investigated the daily suspended sediment load in a watershed basin using the improved support vector machine method. Since in most of the previous studies, the coefficients of the support vector machine method had been calculated based on trial and error, in the present study, the combination of the support vector machine and the genetic algorithm is used. In the first step, the unknown parameters of the support vector machine are calculated and then, the sediment load simulation is performed. Two case studies in the present work involve two earth dams in Semnan Province called Veynakeh and Royan. Furthermore, multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS) and MT tree model (M5T) methods are used for comparison. The results indicated that the input combination of discharge data at the current time and one, two, and three previous days has the best performance for all models. Also, the support vector machine-genetic algorithm (SVM-GA) model has a lower root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) compared to the MARS and M5T models for both stations. In addition, comparing observational data with simulation data based on the R2 coefficient suggested that the SVM-GA model offers more accurate results than the other two methods. Accordingly, the SVM-GA method used in this study has a high potential for simulating sediment volume.

Strongyloides stercoralis is one of the most common human pathogenic parasitic nematodes that is able to complete a life cycle and proliferate within its host. The majority of patients with strongyloidiasis have an asymptomatic infection or mild disease. Nowadays, with increasing the incidence of autoimmune diseases and as well as corticosteroids therapy and increase in diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), cancer has been a source of concern for secondary disorders. These individuals are more likely to develop microbial diseases including bacteria, parasites, fungi, and viral infections, and if they are affected may be endanger the patient's life. Amongst the parasitic infections of Strongyloides stercoralis is very important in the life cycle of the parasite due to the specificity of the infection (Hyperinfection). Our case represents chronic strongyloidiasis with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Objective: Farnesoid-X-activated receptors (FXR) are key modulators of liver regeneration. Milk thistle and Chicory are known as potent protective remedies in several liver disorders. The objective of this work was to examine the role of FXR in the hepato-healing properties of milk thistle (MTE) and chicory extracts (CE) in a rat model of acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups including control, vehicle, acetaminophen (500 mg/kg/day, oral), acetaminophen plus oral MTE 200 and 400 mg/kg/day, and acetaminophen plus oral CE 500 and 1000 /kg/day for 28 days. Liver function and histology as well as the pattern of hepatic FXR expression were assessed after 4 weeks. Results: Administration of acetaminophen was associated with a significant elevation of liver transaminase along with the architectural injuries. In contrast, chronic concomitant administration of both MTE and CE significantly restored the liver function and structural abnormality. The main molecular findings of the study revealed that the lower doses of both MTE and CE led to a marked upregulation of hepatic FXR expression. Conclusion: Discovery of the involvement of the nuclear modulating pathways in hepatoprotective activity of the extracts, providesa new mechanistic insight which needs further investigations.

Background: To assess the efficacy of ethanol as an adjuvant in the treatment of unicameral bone cyst (UBC). Materials and Methods: Surgically treated patients with UBC lesion were reviewed. Definite treatment of UBC lesions was conducted using a combined four-step alcohol-using approach, consisted of curettage, burring, ethanol 96%, and electrocauterization of the lesion, consecutively. Results: Twenty-one patients (mean age 14, range: 2–30, male 62%) were followed from 1 to 10 years. Among 18 cases, only one recurrence was seen in a 5-year-old boy with UBC of the left calcaneus. Conclusions: Using ethanol as an adjuvant may be a good choice for treatment of UBC lesions.

With the global use of wireless sensor network technology in different fields and for different purposes such as health care monitoring, earth sensing, air pollution monitoring, military operations monitoring or surveillance system monitoring, a problem arises. Problem that could negatively impact previously started activities and observations if not handled in a right way. Authors of this paper discuss various vulnerabilities and security threads in different applications of WSN in the real world, such as intrusion, node capture attack, black hole attack or selective forwarding attack. Potential countermeasures are proposed formatted as protocols or architectures for secure transfer of data between friendly nodes, compromises on security measures with the goal of achieving secure and reliable connection. This paper could be used as a general representation of WSN security issue with which WSN engineers are faced on a daily basis.

Predicting suspended sediment load is one of the most important issues in relation to watershed basins which must be in a way that decision-makers make correct decisions about the hydrology of the basin, as well as the related hydraulic structures, based on the predicted values. The present study evaluated the model of support vector machine for predicting suspended sediment load in two earth dams in Iran. According to the fact that support vector model is one of the regression methods, it has parameters with unknown value and the optimization algorithms which have been used in this study including genetic algorithm and particle swarm, have enhanced the support vector model and after completing the model, the pointed method is used to simulate the sediment load. Two earth dams namely Royan and Veynakeh were used as a case study, which were in Semnan province in Iran. Also, we have compared the outcomes of the improved support vector machine method with the M5Tree model and also the multivariate spline model. The results for the Royan station showed that the RMSE error value for the SVR-PSO3 model decreased to 14 up to 75%. In addition, MAE based on SVR-PSO3 was reduced to 12 up to 73% compared to other M5T, SVR-GA, and MARS models. In addition, for Veynakeh station, for example, the SVM-PSO model has been able to reduce the RMSE rate by 19 up to 76%. Also, the evaluation about input parameters for simulated suspended sediment load showed that, the flow rates just like inputs can have more exact results to simulate suspended sediment load and the use of inputs with 1-day delay precipitation reduced the accuracy of the models. Therefore, it has been suggested to use SVM-PSO model as a suitable tool for hydrological simulations in addition to the sedimentation basin.

Diagnosis of acetabular retroversion based on crossover sign in the anteroposterior radiograph of the hip joint is well described. Accuracy of the crossover sign to identify global retroversion of the acetabulum in comparison to version of the acetabulum in reconstructed three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) scan of the hip was the aim of this study. X-rays of 500 hips were assessed regarding presence of crossover sign and its location in the upper, middle, or lower third of the acetabulum. Mean of anteversion and true retroversion (defined as less than one standard deviation below the mean of acetabular anteversion) of the acetabulum using reconstructed 3D CT scan by mathematical software was determined among 500 hips. The positive and negative crossover signs were compared to the retroversion obtained by CT scan. The average of acetabular anteversion was 12.5 ± 4.2 degrees. True global retroversion in 3D CT scans was defined as a version below 8.3 degrees. Although positive crossover sign was seen in 193 out of 500 (38 %), only 69 out of 500 (13.8 %) of hips had version below 8.3 (true retroversion) and 124 subjects had an acetabular version above 8.3. The sensitivity and specificity of crossover signs were about 82 and 70 %, respectively. The crossover sign could pick up hips with less than normal anteversion with acceptable sensitivity but it has no enough specificity for being used as the sole indication for treatment.

Recently, advances in understanding the etiology of urticaria and updates of diagnostic and therapeutic management guidelines have drawn attention to chronic urticaria (CU) morbidity. The present study aimed to evaluate Iranian dermatologists' practice and real life management of CU patients. A total of 35 dermatologists and 443 patients were included in the study. Number of female patients was 321 (72.5%). Mean (standard deviation) age of the study patients was 38 (13) years and the median (inter quartile range) of disease duration was 12 (6-48) months. Severity of patients' symptoms was mild for 32.1%, moderate for 38.7%, severe for 18.8%, and 10.4% of them had no evident signs or symptoms. The most common diagnostic methods were physical examination (96.6%), differential blood count (83.5%), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (77.4%), and C-reactive protein (62.8%). The number of dermatologists prescribed nonsedating antihistamines (nsAH) in regular dose and high dose mono therapy were 26 (74%) and 6 (17%), respectively. About 66% of dermatologists were familiar with British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) guideline. The most common first-line treatment for CU by Iranian dermatologists was nonsedating antihistamines in regular or high doses. The real-life management of patients with CU in Iran was in accordance with the available practice guidelines.

The Level-2 probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) of pressurized water reactors studies the possibility of creep rupture for major reactor coolant system components during the course of high pressure severe accident sequences. The present paper covers this technical issue and tries to quantify its associated phenomenological uncertainties for the development of Level-2 PSA. A framework is proposed for the formal quantification of uncertainties in the Level-2 PSA model of a PWR type nuclear power plant using an integrated deterministic and PSA approach. This is demonstrated for estimation of creep rupture failure probability in station blackout severe accident of a 2-loop PWR, which is the representative case for high pressure sequences. MELCOR 1.8.6 code is employed here as the deterministic tool for the assessment of physical phenomena in the course of accident. In addition, a MATLAB code is developed for quantification of the probabilistic part by treating the uncertainties through separation of aleatory and epistemic sources of uncertainty. The probability for steam generator tube creep rupture is estimated at 0.17.

Composite beams, plates and shells are widely used in the aerospace industry because of their advantages over the commonly used isotropic structures especially when it comes to weight savings. Buckling analyses of composite structural components must be performed in order to ensure, for instance, that a composite panel designed to be part of a control surface does not buckle thereby compromising its aerodynamic shape. Optimization of composite structures has been performed in this paper using Genetic algorithm. Genetic algorithm (GA) approaches are successfully implemented for the TSP. The buckling load of composite plate, which is obtained by the Artificial Neural Networks, was used as the fitness function in the GA to find its optimized value by arranging the ply stacking sequence.

This study investigated nanocomposites based on low density polyethylene containing 2, 3, 5 and 7 wt% potassium permanganate (KMnO4) nanoparticles as a new novel material used for film packaging in fruit industry. This work included preparation and modification of nano-KMnO4, fabrication and characterization of the nanocomposites. Presence of filler caused reduction in degree of crystallinity that was confirmed by WXRD and DSC analysis. Barrier properties of nanocomposite against oxygen were improved up to 24%.