Use of XPS thermal insulator boards in design of educational spaces

This research refers to case study, Haghpanah girls' primary school that is of the standard schools designed and implemented by Isfahan Province Schools Renovation Organization. It deals to the importance and creation of an operational method for applying modern materials such as XPS thermal insulator in architectural design and its effect on educational spaces in section of primary school and how to design. It also deals to its effect and advantages on interior spaces that will help educational optimization significantly. Perhaps some believe that the implementation of thermal insulation of the building increases construction costs. However, we note that the implementation of thermal insulation not only saves energy consumption but also has a significant role in consumption of wasted heating and cooling energy of educational spaces. For example, the position of mentioned school is on the ground floor (pilot) and with external walls around the building. As it is obvious, the building floor and three sides of its perimeter are a part of the external shell (in contact with the outside perimeter). Cooling and heating of such a building requires spending high costs to provide equipment with high capacities. Heating and cooling equipment capacity becomes smaller than half after proper implementation of thermal insulation.As air conditioning equipment becomes small, implementation of optimization not only becomes free but also reduces the overall cost of construction.Keywords: School, modern materials, Building and Housing Research Center, XPS board

Optimization of the antifungal activity of essential oil isolated from aerial parts of Thymus kotschyanus Boiss & Hohen (Lamiaceae)

Although utilization of synthetic chemicals is inevitable for management of economically detrimental agents, numerous side-effects such as environmental contaminations and effects of non-target organisms associated with them. Plant essential oils with low/without toxicity on mammals and as bio-degradable natural materials have been considered for different pests and fungi management in the recent years. In the present study, the essential oil of Thymus kotschyanus isolated by a Clevenger apparatus and its mycelial growth inhibition was measured against two phytopathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium graminearum. The best models for predicting of antifungal effects were quadratic models. The essential oil showed a prospective mycelial growth inhibition against both phytopathogenic fungi. Optimization of the antifungal effects indicated that 206.207 ppm of the essential oil caused 50% mycelial growth inhibition of B. cinerea after 89.651 h. This value was 85.600 ppm for F. graminearum within 117.194 h. Results of the present study designated a great potential of T. kotschyanus essential oil for management of pathogenic fungi B. cinerea and F. graminearum.Keywords: Essential oil, mycelial growth inhibition, response surface, Thymus kotschyanu

IgG anti-apolipoprotein A-1 antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus are associated with disease activity and corticosteroid therapy: an observational study.

IgG anti-apolipoprotein A-1 (IgG anti-apoA-1) antibodies are present in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and may link inflammatory disease activity and the increased risk of developing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in these patients. We carried out a rigorous analysis of the associations between IgG anti-apoA-1 levels and disease activity, drug therapy, serology, damage, mortality and CVD events in a large British SLE cohort

A Novel Dual Factor Fuzzy Time Series Forecasting based on new Fuzzy sets and Interval Definition by Evolution Strategies

This paper proposes a new dual factor time-invariant fuzzy time series method that is capable of forecasting stock marketPrice Index. The proposed approach uses a new fuzzy logic relationship definition. According to the utilized membershipdegrees used to define the fuzzy relationships, each datum may belong to two distinct intervals rather than only one interval.This assumption, which has not been considered in the other studies, contributes to better forecasting results. In addition, anappropriate meta-heuristic algorithm for continuous solution schemes, namely evolution strategies (ES), is utilized to identifythe appropriate interval lengths. The proposed approach has been tested on TAIFEX index. The computational results showedthat the proposed approach outperforms the former studies

Guillian-Barre syndrome , Childhood, Epidemiology, Electrodiagnosis, Clinical features, East Azarbaijan

 ObjectiveThis study aims at determining the epidemiologic, presenting symptoms, clinical course and electrophysiologic features of childhood Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) in the East Azarbaijan province over a period of five years.Materials & Methods All the patients, aged< 15 years, referred/admitted to Tabriz Children Hospital with GBS between January 2001 and December 2005 were investigated.ResultsOne hundred and twelve subjects were enrolled during this period. The average annual incidence rate was 2.21 per 100000 population of children agedConclusion The axonal type of GBS is a relatively common form of childhood GBS occurring in East Azerbaijan.

Biodiversity of genus Orius (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) in various climate regions and seasons of Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad province and evaluation of agro-ecosystem effects on their biodiversity

The members of genus Orius are known as natural enemies of many of plant pests in the world. We studied the fauna and biodiversity of the family Anthocoridae bugs in different environmental conditions of Kohgiloyeh and Boyrahmad province of Iran. Sampling took place in three climates and from three ecosystems (gardens, farms and virgin uncultivated lands) throught three replicationsevery other week. Species were identified based on male genitalia, and the biodiversity study was done using Shannon-Wiener dominance index through SDR software. The species Orius albidipennis (Reuter), O. niger (Wolff), O. laevigatus (Fiber),O. pallidicornis (Reuter),O. vicinus (Ribaut), O. horvati(Reuter) were identfied. The results showed that O. albidipennis was the dominant species in tropical climate and O. niger was the dominant species in cold climate. The Shannon-Wiener indices of tropical, moderate and cool climates were 1.245, 1.233, and 0.9896 respectively. Biodiversity of Orius spp in non manipulated ecosystems were significantly higher than manipulated (agricultural) ecosystems. Therefore biodiversities of the natural enemies were significantly affected by climate and ecosystem conditions.Regarding the side effects of ecosystem manipulating treatments on the biodiversity of the predatory bugs, some conservative treatments such as multi-cropping, rgeen islands of weed could enhance biodiversity and efficiency of predators

Predictors of left ventricular performance after valve replacement in children and adolescents with chronic aortic regurgitation

Aortic valve replacement has been recommended in patients who have severe symptoms, in patients with extreme left ventricle (LV) dilatation (end diastolic dimension >4 SD above normal) or LV ejection fraction 4 SD above normal (p < 0.05) were predictors of persistent LV dysfunction. Extreme LV dilatation (p < 0.0003), LV end systolic dimension (p < 0.0007), and reduced LV ejection fraction (p < 0.01) predicted persistent LV dilatation. In the setting of chronic AR, preoperative symptoms, LV systolic function, and LV internal dimensions are the main predictors for persistent LV dysfunction and dilatation. Surgical correction should be performed before LV systolic dysfunction and/or extreme LV enlargement occurs. © Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2005