Evaluation of flow characteristics that give higher mixing performance in the 3-D T-mixer versus the typical T-mixer

This document is the Accepted Manuscript of the following article: Cesar Augusto Cortes-Quiroz, Alireza Azarbadegan, and Mehrdad Zangeneh, ‘Evaluation of flow characteristics that give higher mixing performance in the 3-D T-mixer versus the typical T-mixer’, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, Vol. 202: 1209-1219, October 2014, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2014.06.042, made available under the the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License CC BY NC-ND 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).A 3-D configuration of a T-mixer is evaluated under normal operating conditions of the called convective micromixers. The design has been called 3-D T-mixer in our previous work [1] as it adopts a three-dimensional structure at the T-junction. This design feature has been found that it exerts a strong effect on the flow characteristics in the device downstream in the mixing channel. A numerical study has been carried out in the 3-D T-mixer and the typical T-mixer, being these modelled with equal dimensions of channel lengths and cross sections and operated with the same flow rates. The flow analysis in the 3-D T-mixer reveals the quick formation of vortical flow structures composed of intertwined fluid filaments which increase drastically the fluids interface to enhance mixing. The flow patterns in the mixing channel vary with Reynolds number (Re) in the range 100-500. This study shows that the 3-D T-mixer provides a significant enhancement of mixing and presents lower pressure loss and similar level of shear stress compared to a typical T-mixer, in the whole range of Re used to characterize the flow. It has a simple channel configuration which is easy to fabricate and effective for mixing of continuous fluid and potentially particles. The 3-D T-mixer is called to be tested and applied for improving the efficiency of systems which have a T-junction in their design and require fast mixing with high throughput.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Induced overexpression of MARCH-1 in human macrophages altered to M2 phenotype for suppressing inflammation process

Objective(s): The M1 macrophage is characterized by enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokines production, whereas macrophage (M2) has anti-inflammatory features. Macrophage polarization as a therapeutic target for controlling immune responses could be performed by gene transduction to control the regulation of exaggerated innate/adaptive immune responses. Materials and Methods: Macrophages were prepared from THP-1 cell line and human monocytes that were transduced with (Membrane-Associated RING-CH-type finger) MARCH-1 viral lentivector produced in HEK-293T cells. RT-PCR and Western blotting confirmed MARCH-1 gene transduction. Cytokine production, CD markers assay, macrophage phagocytosis potential activity and mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) with CFSE were performed for M1/M2 plasticity. Results: The mean fluorescent intensity of HLA-DR and CD64 expression reduced in MARCH-1+ transduced macrophage population. However, CD206 and CD163 expression increased in these macrophages. The concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α and iNOS were decreased in MARCH-1 transduced cells, and TGF-β production showed an augmentation in concentration. Western blotting and real-time PCR measurement confirmed that the expression levels of MARCH-1 protein and arginase-1 enzyme were increased in transduced macrophages. Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory features of MARCH-1 revealed the reduced levels of pro-inflammatory factors and maintained M2 phenotype characterized by high levels of scavenger receptors. Therefore, targeting MARCH-1 in monocytes/macrophages could represent a new autologous cell-based therapies strategy for inflammatory conditions

Examining the status of spiritual health among students at the autonomous campus of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2016

For downloading the full-text of this article please click here.Background and Objective: Spiritual well-being is regarded both as one of the major dimensions of health among human beings and a prominent approach to improving public health. So, given the significance of this aspect of health, the present study aimed to Examining the status of spiritual health among students at the autonomous campus of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2016.Method: In this descriptive and analytical study, the statistical population comprised 346 students at the autonomous campus, Dentistry and Pharmaceuticals, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2016, and all of them were selected by census method in the study. For data collection, the 20-item spiritual well-being scale by Paloutzian & Ellison (1982) was utilized. To analyze data, the t-test and ANOVA were employed. All ethical issues were observed. Moreover, the authors did not report conflict of interest.Results: The results of the present study revealed that the spiritual well-being of students was average (71.86±4.84), and of all demographic variables under study, only the variable of gender was correlated with the mean score of spiritual well-being. Furthermore, the students’ scores of religious well-being measured higher than that of their existential well-being.Conclusion: According to the dominant religious culture in Iranian society, expected influences of religious as a compatibility source is normal. Therefore, it is necessary for the protection of young people pay attention to their spiritual dimension, to witness the impact of such care and create a sense of peace and healing in patients.For downloading the full-text of this article please click here

بررسی وضعیت سلامت معنوی دانشجویان پردیس خودگردان دانشگاه علوم پزشکی کرمانشاه در سال 1395

Background and Objective: Spiritual well-being is regarded both as one of the major dimensions of health among human beings and a prominent approach to improving public health. So, given the significance of this aspect of health, the present study aimed to Examining the status of spiritual health among students at the autonomous campus of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2016. Method: In this descriptive and analytical study, the statistical population comprised 346 students at the autonomous campus, Dentistry and Pharmaceuticals, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2016, and all of them were selected by census method in the study. For data collection, the 20-item spiritual well-being scale by Paloutzian & Ellison (1982) was utilized. To analyze data, the t-test and ANOVA were employed. All ethical issues were observed. Moreover, the authors did not report conflict of interest. Results: The results of the present study revealed that the spiritual well-being of students was average (71.86±4.84), and of all demographic variables under study, only the variable of gender was correlated with the mean score of spiritual well-being. Furthermore, the students’ scores of religious well-being measured higher than that of their existential well-being. Conclusion: According to the dominant religious culture in Iranian society, expected influences of religious as a compatibility source is normal. Therefore, it is necessary for the protection of young people pay attention to their spiritual dimension, to witness the impact of such care and create a sense of peace and healing in patients.   Please cite this article as: Ziapour A, Kianipour N, Saeidi Sh, Zangeneh A. Examining the status of spiritual health among students at the autonomous campus of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2016. J Res Relig Health. 2017; 3(2): 8- 19.سابقه و هدف: سلامت معنوی، یکی از بُعدهای مهم سلامت در انسان و رویکردی مهم در ارتقای سلامت عمومی محسوب می­شود. با توجه به اهمیت نقش این بُعد سلامت، پژوهش حاضر با هدف بررسی وضعیت سلامت معنوی دانشجویان پردیس خودگردان دانشگاه علوم پزشکی کرمانشاه در سال 1395 صورت گرفته است روش کار: این پژوهش از نوع توصیفی- تحلیلی است. جامعه­ی پژوهش شامل 346 نفر از دانشجویان پردیس خودگردان (پزشکی، دندانپزشکی و داروسازی) دانشگاه علوم پزشکی کرمانشاه در سال 95 است، که به­روش سرشماری انتخاب شدند. ابزار جمع­آوری داده­ها پرسش­نامه­ی 20 سؤالی استاندارد معنوی (alutzian-Elison) بود. داده­ها پس از جمع­آوری با استفاده از آزمون پارامتریک T-test و نیز آزمون تحلیل واریانس، تجزیه و تحلیل شد. در این پژوهش همه‌ی موارد اخلاقی رعایت شده است. علاوه‌براین، نویسندگان مقاله هیچ‌گونه تضاد منافعی گزارش نکرده‌اند. یافته‌ها: یافته­ها نشان داده که از بین متغیّرهای جمعیت­شناختی (جنس، سن، محل تولد، وضعیت تأهل، وضعیت مسکن، ترم و رشته­ی تحصيلي) فقط متغیّر جنس با میانگین نمره­ی سلامت معنوی ارتباط معناداری دارد و نمره­ی سلامت مذهبی دانشجویان بالاتر از نمره­ی سلامت وجودی آنان است. نتیجه‌گیری: با توجه به فرهنگ غالب مذهبی در جامعه­ی ایرانی، انتظار تأثیرهای مذهبی که منبع سازگاری محسوب می­شود، طبیعی است. ازاین­رو، ضرورت دارد که در حمایت از جوانان به بُعد معنوی آنان توجه شود، تا شاهد تأثیر این­گونه مراقبت­ها و ایجاد احساس آرامش و تسریع بهبودی در بیماران باشیم.   استناد مقاله به این صورت است: Ziapour A, Kianipour N, Saeidi Sh, Zangeneh A. Examining the status of spiritual health among students at the autonomous campus of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2016. J Res Relig Health. 2017; 3(2): 8- 19

Relationship between the Subscales of Mental Health and Spiritual Health in Staff of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2016

For downloading the full-text of this article please click here.Background and Objective: Spiritual health is a valuable asset that affects humans’ mental health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the mental health and spiritual health among the staff of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2016.Method: In this cross-sectional study, 267 employees of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences were surveyed by simple random sampling. The data collection tools included Goldenberg’s General Health Questionnaire and Paloutzian and Ellison’s Spiritual Well-Being Questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using Pearson product moment correlation. In this research, all ethical issues were observed. In addition, the authors did not report any conflict of interests.Results: According to the results of the study, the mean mental health score was 2.98, while the mean score of spiritual health was 3.62. In addition, there was a significant correlation between the mental and spiritual health (r=0.324). Considering the subscales of mental health, spiritual health registered the highest and lowest correlations with depression and physical symptoms respectively.Conclusion: Improving the mental health of the effective and constructive population of the society is necessary for the dynamism, prosperity and promotion of the society. Spiritual health affects the university staff's mental health. Therefore, planning to promote it is an important issue that should be considered by the relevant authorities and policy makers.For downloading the full-text of this article please click here.Please cite this article as: Ziapour A, GhaderiA, VafapoorH, Yazdani V, Saeidi Sh, Zangeneh AR. Relationship between the Subscales of Mental Health and Spiritual Health in Staff of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2016. J Res Relig Health. 2018; 4(3): 34- 44

Investigating geographical accessibility and site suitability of medical laboratories in Kermanshah-Iran

IntroductionOne of the major challenges in developing countries is the inappropriate spatial distribution of medical laboratory centers (MLCs) which can lead to injustice in access to health services. This study aimed to investigate the accessibility to and site suitability of MLCs in Kermanshah Metropolis by GIS.Materials and methodsIn this cross-sectional study, data were collected from the Iran Statistical Center and Deputy of Treatment of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. We used Arc/GIS 10.6 software, AHP technique, and network analysis tools to determine the access status of Kermanshah citizens to MLCs in 2019 and site selection for MLCs. The layers used in this study included population density, city development trends, compatible and incompatible land uses, pathways, land slope, river area, and access radius.ResultsAbout 70% of households had inappropriate access to all MLCs in walking scenario. This ratio was 31.26% for 5 min, 9.58% for 10 min, and 6.09% for 15 min driving. Comparisons between public and private MLCs showed that in walking scenario, 88% of households had improper access to public and 80% to private MLCs. Based on 5 and 10 min of driving, 57 and 19% of households had inappropriate access to public MLCs, and 45 and 17% to private MLCs, respectively. Also, with 15 min of driving, 8% of households had improper access to public and 18% to private MLCs. Findings showed that scores provided for population density criteria were (0.298), distance from existing laboratories (0.213), proximity to pathways (0.175), consistent land use (0.129), city development trend (0.087), distance from riverfront (0.053), distance from incompatible land uses (0.015), and land slope (0.03). The final model was obtained by overlaying the layers. The model showed a 9-degree range from very bad to very good in Kermanshah city for the construction of laboratory centers (CR<0.01).ConclusionThe site selection model showed that the location of the proposed centers can be in the north and outskirts of the city to facilitate citizens' access to the MLCs. These results emphasize the justice in the spatial distribution of MLCs for the benefit of deprived populations as a global value

Spatiotemporal clustering of suicide attempt in Kermanshah, West-Iran

BackgroundA suicide attempt is a major societal problem because it imposes high costs on societies worldwide. This paper analyses the spatiotemporal clustering of suicide attempt in Kermanshah, Iran from 2006–14.MethodsThis study draws on 18,333 individuals (7,234 males and 11,097 females) who attempted suicide across the Kermanshah province. Data was collected from the records of individuals registered in hospitals across the Kermanshah province between 2006 and 2014. Mean Center, Standard Deviational Ellipse (SDE), Moran’s I and Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) in Arc/GIS10.6 software were used for the analysis of the spatial distribution of suicide attempt, while the chi-squared test in SPSS was used to examine the different demographic variables between groups within/outside spatial clusters of suicide.ResultsThe results show that a total of 18,331 suicide attempts (39.46% male and 60.53% female) were reported between 2006 and 2014 in the Kermanshah province. The spatial pattern of suicide attempts was clustered in 16 clusters (6 high clusters and 10 low clusters) and statistically significant differences were found within and outside the hotspots of suicide attempts. Most hot spots were formed in and around cities. Younger people were at a greater risk. The rate of suicide attempts reduced in illiterate people and increased in people with university degrees. Unmarried people were associated with a higher risk of suicide attempt than was married status for both males and females.ConclusionThe results of this study could help public health practitioners and policymakers in Iran prioritize resources and target efforts for suicide attempt prevention

Decomposing socioeconomic inequality in poor mental health among Iranian adult population: results from the PERSIAN cohort study

Background Socioeconomic inequality in mental health in Iran is poorly understood. This study aimed to assess socioeconomic inequality in poor mental health among Iranian adults. Methods The study used the baseline data of PERSIAN cohort study including 131,813 participants from 17 geographically distinct areas of Iran. The Erreygers Concentration index (E) was used to quantify the socioeconomic inequalities in poor mental health. Moreover, we decomposed the E to identify factors contributing to the observed socioeconomic inequality in poor mental health in Iran. Results The estimated E for poor mental health was - 0.012 (95% CI: - 0.0144, - 0.0089), indicating slightly higher concentration of mental health problem among socioeconomically disadvantaged adults in Iran. Socioeconomic inequality in poor mental health was mainly explained by gender (19.93%) and age (12.70%). Region, SES itself, and physical activity were other important factors that contributed to the concentration of poor mental health among adults with low socioeconomic status. Conclusion There exists nearly equitable distribution in poor mental health among Iranian adults, but with important variations by gender, SES, and geography. These results suggested that interventional programs in Iran should focus on should focus more on socioeconomically disadvantaged people as a whole, with particular attention to the needs of women and those living in more socially disadvantaged regions. Keywords:Mental health; Socioeconomic inequality; Concentration index; Decompositio

Mapping 123 million neonatal, infant and child deaths between 2000 and 2017

Since 2000, many countries have achieved considerable success in improving child survival, but localized progress remains unclear. To inform efforts towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.2—to end preventable child deaths by 2030—we need consistently estimated data at the subnational level regarding child mortality rates and trends. Here we quantified, for the period 2000–2017, the subnational variation in mortality rates and number of deaths of neonates, infants and children under 5 years of age within 99 low- and middle-income countries using a geostatistical survival model. We estimated that 32% of children under 5 in these countries lived in districts that had attained rates of 25 or fewer child deaths per 1,000 live births by 2017, and that 58% of child deaths between 2000 and 2017 in these countries could have been averted in the absence of geographical inequality. This study enables the identification of high-mortality clusters, patterns of progress and geographical inequalities to inform appropriate investments and implementations that will help to improve the health of all populations

Global, regional, and national cancer incidence, mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-Adjusted life-years for 29 cancer groups, 1990 to 2017 : A systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study

Importance: Cancer and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are now widely recognized as a threat to global development. The latest United Nations high-level meeting on NCDs reaffirmed this observation and also highlighted the slow progress in meeting the 2011 Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and the third Sustainable Development Goal. Lack of situational analyses, priority setting, and budgeting have been identified as major obstacles in achieving these goals. All of these have in common that they require information on the local cancer epidemiology. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study is uniquely poised to provide these crucial data. Objective: To describe cancer burden for 29 cancer groups in 195 countries from 1990 through 2017 to provide data needed for cancer control planning. Evidence Review: We used the GBD study estimation methods to describe cancer incidence, mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, and disability-Adjusted life-years (DALYs). Results are presented at the national level as well as by Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator of income, educational attainment, and total fertility rate. We also analyzed the influence of the epidemiological vs the demographic transition on cancer incidence. Findings: In 2017, there were 24.5 million incident cancer cases worldwide (16.8 million without nonmelanoma skin cancer [NMSC]) and 9.6 million cancer deaths. The majority of cancer DALYs came from years of life lost (97%), and only 3% came from years lived with disability. The odds of developing cancer were the lowest in the low SDI quintile (1 in 7) and the highest in the high SDI quintile (1 in 2) for both sexes. In 2017, the most common incident cancers in men were NMSC (4.3 million incident cases); tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer (1.5 million incident cases); and prostate cancer (1.3 million incident cases). The most common causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for men were TBL cancer (1.3 million deaths and 28.4 million DALYs), liver cancer (572000 deaths and 15.2 million DALYs), and stomach cancer (542000 deaths and 12.2 million DALYs). For women in 2017, the most common incident cancers were NMSC (3.3 million incident cases), breast cancer (1.9 million incident cases), and colorectal cancer (819000 incident cases). The leading causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for women were breast cancer (601000 deaths and 17.4 million DALYs), TBL cancer (596000 deaths and 12.6 million DALYs), and colorectal cancer (414000 deaths and 8.3 million DALYs). Conclusions and Relevance: The national epidemiological profiles of cancer burden in the GBD study show large heterogeneities, which are a reflection of different exposures to risk factors, economic settings, lifestyles, and access to care and screening. The GBD study can be used by policy makers and other stakeholders to develop and improve national and local cancer control in order to achieve the global targets and improve equity in cancer care. © 2019 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe