Estimating the furrow infiltration characteristic from a single advance point

Management and control of surface irrigation, in particular furrow irrigation, is limited by spatio-temporal soil infiltration variability as well as the high cost and time associated with collecting intensive field data for estimation of the infiltration characteristics. Recent work has proposed scaling the commonly used infiltration function by using a model infiltration curve and a single advance point for every other furrow in an irrigation event. Scaling factors were calculated for a series of furrows at two sites and at four points down the length of the field (0.25 L, 0.5 L, 0.75 L and L). Differences in the value of the scaling factor with distance were found to be a function of the shape of the advance curves. It is concluded that use of points early in the advance results in a substantial loss of accuracy and should be avoided. The scaling factor was also strongly correlated with the furrow-wetted perimeter suggesting that the scaling is an appropriate way of both predicting and accommodating the effect of the hydraulic variability

Placental kisspeptins differentially modulate vital parameters of estrogen receptor-positive and-negative breast cancer cells

Kisspeptins (KPs) are major regulators of trophoblast and cancer invasion. Thus far, limited and conflicting data are available on KP-mediated modulation of breast cancer (BC) metastasis; mostly based on synthetic KP-10, the most active fragment of KP. Here, we report for the first time comprehensive functional effects of term placental KPs on proliferation, adhesion, Matrigel invasion, motility, MMP activity and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in MDA-MB-231 (estrogen receptor-negative) and MCF-7 (estrogen receptor-positive). KPs were expressed at high level by term placental syncytiotrophoblasts and released in soluble form. Placental explant conditioned medium containing KPs (CM) significantly reduced proliferation of both cell types compared to CM without (w/o) KP (CM-w/o KP) in a dose-and time-dependent manner. In MDA-MB-231 cells, placental KPs significantly reduced adhesive properties, while increased MMP9 and MMP2 activity and stimulated invasion. Increased invasiveness of MDA-MB-231 cells after CM treatment was inhibited by KP receptor antagonist, P-234. CM significantly reduced motility of MCF-7 cells at all time points (2-30 hr), while it stimulated motility of MDA-MB-231 cells. These effects were reversed by P-234. Co-treatment with selective ER modulators, Tamoxifen and Raloxifene, inhibited the effect of CM on motility of MCF-7 cells. The level of IL-6 in supernatant of MCF-7 cells treated with CM was higher compared to those treated with CM-w/o KP. Both cell types produced more IL-8 after treatment with CM compared to those treated with CM-w/o KP. Taken together, our observations suggest that placental KPs differentially modulate vital parameters of estrogen receptor-positive and-negative BC cells possibly through modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine production. © 2016 Rasoulzadeh et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited

Implementation outcome instruments for use in physical healthcare settings: a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Implementation research aims to facilitate the timely and routine implementation and sustainment of evidence-based interventions and services. A glaring gap in this endeavour is the capability of researchers, healthcare practitioners and managers to quantitatively evaluate implementation efforts using psychometrically sound instruments. To encourage and support the use of precise and accurate implementation outcome measures, this systematic review aimed to identify and appraise studies that assess the measurement properties of quantitative implementation outcome instruments used in physical healthcare settings. METHOD: The following data sources were searched from inception to March 2019, with no language restrictions: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, HMIC, CINAHL and the Cochrane library. Studies that evaluated the measurement properties of implementation outcome instruments in physical healthcare settings were eligible for inclusion. Proctor et al.'s taxonomy of implementation outcomes was used to guide the inclusion of implementation outcomes: acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, adoption, penetration, implementation cost and sustainability. Methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. Psychometric quality of the included instruments was assessed using the Contemporary Psychometrics checklist (ConPsy). Usability was determined by number of items per instrument. RESULTS: Fifty-eight publications reporting on the measurement properties of 55 implementation outcome instruments (65 scales) were identified. The majority of instruments assessed acceptability (n = 33), followed by appropriateness (n = 7), adoption (n = 4), feasibility (n = 4), penetration (n = 4) and sustainability (n = 3) of evidence-based practice. The methodological quality of individual scales was low, with few studies rated as 'excellent' for reliability (6/62) and validity (7/63), and both studies that assessed responsiveness rated as 'poor' (2/2). The psychometric quality of the scales was also low, with 12/65 scales scoring 7 or more out of 22, indicating greater psychometric strength. Six scales (6/65) rated as 'excellent' for usability. CONCLUSION: Investigators assessing implementation outcomes quantitatively should select instruments based on their methodological and psychometric quality to promote consistent and comparable implementation evaluations. Rather than developing ad hoc instruments, we encourage further psychometric testing of instruments with promising methodological and psychometric evidence. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO 2017 CRD42017065348

Variational Path Optimization of Linear Pentapods with a Simple Singularity Variety

This file is part of joint work between A. Rasoulzadeh and G. Nawratil at Center for Geometry and Computational Design (GCD), Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien). It is created on October 10th, 2019. ABSTRACT: ‎The class of linear pentapods with a simple singularity variety is obtained by imposing architectural restrictions on the design of a linear pentapod in a way that the manipulator's singularity variety is linear in orientation/position variables‎. ‎It turns out that such a simplification leads to crucial computational advantages while maintaining the machine's applications in some fundamental industrial tasks such as 5-axis milling and laser cutting‎. ‎ ‎Assuming that a singularity-free path between a given start‎- ‎and end-pose of the end-effector within the manipulator's workspace‎ is known,‎ an optimization process of this path is proposed in such a way that the robot increases its distance to the singularity loci‎ while the motion is being smoothed‎. ‎In this case the computation time of the optimization is improved as one deals with the pentapods having a simple singularity variety allowing symbolic solutions for the local extrema of the singularity-distance function‎. The whole process is called variational path optimization and takes place ‎through defining a ‎novel ‎‎cost ‎function‎. ‎This optimization process takes the physical limits of prismatic joints and base spherical joints into account‎‎. HOW TO USE: In order to use the algorithm please type "variational_path_optimization" in the MATLAB "Command Window". The code then asks the user a range of questions from "architectural aspects of your manipulator" to plot options. For most of these questions the user can simply ignore (if he/she does not wish a very specific optimization or plot) by pressing enter. However some of these questions are obligatory to answer. Therefore we ask the user to type "help variational_path_optimization" in in the MATLAB "Command Window" for a thorough description of his/her available options. Please note that a DEFAULT SETTING is made available for the code by which the user can observe how the algorithm works on a predefined simple pentapod and a predefined singularity-free initial motion (as a sample we recommend using the special curve "twisted"). Finally, if the user has access to MAPLE, then he/she can visualize the full results alongside the shape of the manipulator. In order to do so please run "variational_path_optimization.m" on a case, then execute the files "pentapod.mw" and "plot.mw" consecutively. NOTE: 9 videos (GIF files) of motions of a sample is provided for you in the folder "Sample Videos". WARNING: Note that the rest of the MATLAB functions in the folder are just nested functions in the file "variational_path_optimization.m". The help option is also available for all these nested functions which demonstrates their specific role within the main code. The MATLAB files will be subject to minor updates including a GU

The Effectiveness of Education on Prevention of Osteoporosis among High School Female Students

Background & Aim: Osteoporosis is a silent and preventable disease that mostly affects women. Osteoporosis prevention requires enhancing knowledge and awareness of students. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of education on prevention of osteoporosis among high school female students in the sixth distinct of Tehran. Methods & Materials: In this randomized controlled trial, 600 students were selected using cluster sampling method. Data were gathered using a three-part questionnaire including demographic, knowledge, and practice items. After the baseline measurement, the students were randomly allocated into intervention and control groups. Two educational sessions were held for the intervention group. At the end of the sessions, educational booklets were distributed among the students. The educational strategies included giving lectures, and practicing physical exercises. After two weeks, the participants completed the questionnaires again. The educational classes were held for the control group after the last measurements. Results: Data analysis showed that the mean of knowledge score and the participants' practice were significantly different between two groups after the intervention (P<0.001). Conclusion: Regarding the effect of education on enhancing students' awareness and practice about osteoporosis prevention, designing educational programs could be beneficial.   Key words: education, osteoporosis, preventio

Mechanistic investigation of ciprofloxacin recovery by magnetite�imprinted chitosan nanocomposite: Isotherm, kinetic, thermodynamic and reusability studies

Recovery of antibiotics from water and wastewaters has recently gained a great deal of attention due to their serious health and environmental problems. In this work, a magnetite imprinted chitosan polymer nanocomposites (Fe-CS NCs) were synthesized and applied for the adsorptive removal of ciprofloxacin (CIFO) as a model fluoroquinolone antibiotics. The composition and surface morphology of Fe-CS NCs were studied by SEM, BET, XRD, TEM, FTIR and zeta potential meter. Modelling and optimization of adsorption process were studied using response surface methodology (RSM). The reliability of the RSM models was tested by fitting the data. A comparative analysis of the results derived from the models demonstrated that the second-order model was the best. From the contour plotting results, at pH < pH iep low adsorption rate was observed due to protonation of the chitosan NH 2 groups, whereas the adsorption rate was significantly enhanced and achieved to a maximum level at pH 6 due to the electrostatic interactions and hydrophobic interactions. Under optimum conditions, maximum removal efficiency and maximum adsorption capacity were obtained 68 and 142 mg/g, respectively. Well regenerability of Fe-CS together with its high capacity of fluoroquinolone antibiotics removal provide a promisable strategy to remediation of wastewaters. © 2019 Elsevier B.V