Estimating Hemodynamics in Skeletal Muscle Arteriolar Networks Reconstructed From In Vivo Data

The objective of this work was to develop a computational model that could accurately predict blood flow in skeletal muscle arteriolar trees in the absence of complete boundary data. We used arteriolar trees in the rat gluteus maximus muscle (GM) that were reconstructed from montages obtained via intravital videomicroscopy, and incorporated a recently published method for approximating unknown boundary conditions into our existing steady-state model of two-phase blood flow. For varying numbers of unknown boundary conditions, we used the new flow model and GM arteriolar geometry to approximately match red blood cell (RBC) flows corresponding to experimental measurements. We showed that this method gives errors that decrease as the number of known boundary conditions increases. We also showed that specifying total blood flow into the arteriolar tree decreases the mean RBC flow error and its variance. By varying the target values of pressure and wall shear stress required by the model, we showed that results are less sensitive to the target pressure and, in addition, proposed a method for estimating the optimal target shear stress

Logarithmic entropy--corrected holographic dark energy with non--minimal kinetic coupling

In this paper, we have considered a cosmological model with the non--minimal kinetic coupling terms and investigated its cosmological implications with respect to the logarithmic entropy-- corrected holographic dark energy (LECHDE). The correspondence between LECHDE in flat FRW cosmology and the phantom dark energy model with the aim to interpret the current universe acceleration is also examined.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures; Can. J. Phys. Vol. 90, 201

Generalized Partial Least Squares Approach for Nominal Multinomial Logit Regression Models with a Functional Covariate

Functional Data Analysis (FDA) has attracted substantial attention for the last two decades. Within FDA, classifying curves into two or more categories is consistently of interest to scientists, but multi-class prediction within FDA is challenged in that most classification tools have been limited to binary response applications. The functional logistic regression (FLR) model was developed to forecast a binary response variable in the functional case. In this study, a functional nominal multinomial logit regression (F-NM-LR) model was developed that shifts the FLR model into a multiple logit model. However, the model generates inaccurate parameter function estimates due to multicollinearity in the design matrix. A generalized partial least squares (GPLS) approach with cubic B-spline basis expansions was developed to address the multicollinearity and high dimensionality problems that preclude accurate estimates and curve discrimination with the F-NM-LR model. The GPLS method extends partial least squares (PLS) and improves upon current methodology by introducing a component selection criterion that reconstructs the parameter function with fewer predictors. The GPLS regression estimates are derived via Iteratively ReWeighted Partial Least Squares (IRWPLS), defining a set of uncorrelated latent variables to use as predictors for the F-GPLS-NM-LR model. This methodology was compared to the classic alternative estimation method of principal component regression (PCR) in a simulation study. The performance of the proposed methodology was tested via simulations and applications on a spectrometric dataset. The results indicate that the GPLS method performs well in multi-class prediction with respect to the F-NM-LR model. The main difference between the two approaches was that PCR usually requires more components than GPLS to achieve similar accuracy of parameter function estimates of the F-GPLS-NM-LR model. The results of this research imply that the GPLS method is preferable to the F-NM-LR model, and it is a useful contribution to FDA techniques. This method may be particularly appropriate for practical situations where accurate prediction of a response variable with fewer components is a priority

Electrochemical and spectroscopic study of therapeutic effect of Prunus avium L. tail herbal tea on formation and dissolution of calcium oxalate kidney stones

Background and aims: Kidney stone is one of diseases that more than ten percent of the population suffers from it. Calcium oxalate is the most well-known type of the kidney stones which no chemical medicinal treatment presented for it. The use of herbal products can be a good way to prevent the formation or dissolution of these stones. This study was carried out with the aim of determining Prunus avium L. tail herbal tea effect on the formation or dissolution of calcium oxalate. Methods: In this study, the herbal tea of 4.0 g dried Prunus avium L. tail in 100.0 ml double distilled water was prepared and its effect on the formation and dissolution of calcium oxalate was investigated. The solubility of this salt in mixture containing 33.3% (v/v) of herbal tea was studied by complexometery and spectroscopy methods. The concentration of Ca2+ in saturated calcium oxalate solution was determined by titration with 0.01 M Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and light emission in complexometric and spectroscopic methods, respectively. In order to investigate the formation rate of calcium oxalate salt, the titration of 0.05 M calcium chloride solution containing 33.3% (v/v) of herbal tea with 0.05 M sodium oxalate was performed. Results: The results of flame photometery, complexometery and conductometery techniques reveal that, although this herbal tea cannot have good effect on the dissolution of calcium oxalate stone, it significantly prevented the stone formation (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study show that Prunus avium L. tail herbal tea can be a good choice to prevent diseases in people disposed to kidney stones

Item Analysis of Multiple-choice Questions (MCQs): Assessment Tool For Quality Assurance Measures

Background: Integration of assessment with education is vital and ought to be performed regularly to enhance learning. There are many assessment methods like Multiple-choice Questions, Objective Structured Clinical Examination, Objective Structured Practical Examination, etc. The selection of the appropriate method is based on the curricula blueprint and the target competencies. Although MCQs has the capacity to test students’ higher cognition, critical appraising, problem-solving, data interpretation, and testing curricular contents in a short time, there are constraints in its analysis. The authors aim to accentuate some consequential points about psychometric analysis displaying its roles, assessing its validity and reliability in discriminating the examinee’s performance, and impart some guide to the faculty members when constructing their exam questions bank. Methods: Databases such as Google Scholar and PubMed were searched for freely accessible English articles published since 2010. Synonyms and keywords were used in the search. First, the abstracts of the articles were viewed and read to select suitable match, then full articles were perused and summarized. Finally, recapitulation of the relevant data was done to the best of the authors’ knowledge. Results: The searched articles showed the capacity of MCQs item analysis in assessing questions’ validity, reliability, its capacity in discriminating against the examinee’s performance and correct technical flaws for question bank construction. Conclusion: Item analysis is a statistical tool used to assess students’ performance on a test, identify underperformed items, and determine the root causes of this underperformance for improvement to ensure effective and accurate students’ competency judgment. Keywords: assessment, difficulty index, discrimination index, distractors, MCQ item analysi

Frequency comb vernier spectroscopy in the near infrared

We perform femtosecond frequency comb vernier spectroscopy in the near infrared with a femtosecond Er doped fiber laser, a scanning high-finesse cavity and an InGaAs camera. By utilizing the properties of a frequency comb and a scanning high-finesse cavity such spectroscopy provides broad spectral bandwidth, high spectral resolution, and high detection sensitivity on a short time scale. We achieved an absorption sensitivity of ~8E-8 cm-1Hz-1/2 corresponding to a detection limit of ~70 ppbv for acetylene, with a resolution of ~1.1 GHz in single images taken in 0.5 seconds and covering a frequency range of ~5 THz. These measurements have broad applications for sensing other greenhouse gases in this fingerprint near IR region with a simple apparatus.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure

Contributing factors to extreme tendencies to internet in students of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences and providing preventive strategies to deal with it

Background and aims: Internet seems to be increasingly involved a major part of the daily lives of population. In recent years, many reports have confirmed the huge number of internet users worldwide. This article is seeking to explore the factors contributing to the tendency to internet in students of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences (SKUMS) and aimed to recommend some preventive strategies to deal with their extreme tendencies to the internet usage. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted among 378 students and teachers of SKUMS, randomly enrolled using stratified random sampling from different faculties. To measure the variables, a questionnaire was used. Results: The results showed that the factors such as the tendency to make temporary friends, more attention to the opposite sex, and the loneliness were the most important determinants of extreme tendency to the internet usage. The designing some courses in different educational periods in order to make them more familiar with various online crimes as well as ways of self-protection was one of the most important preventive strategies to deal with extreme tendency to internet. Conclusion: Several factors could contribute into extreme tendency to internet among university students, which have to be identified, and effective strategies should also be exploited to deal with the extreme tendency to internet

Analisis Positioning Program Studi Creative Multimedia Professional Berdasarkan Perceptual Map Dengan Metode Multi Dimensional Scalling

Rendahnya pengetahuan masyarakat mengenai perbedaan yang dimiliki oleh Telkom Professional Certified Competency (TPCC) melalui program studinya Creative Multimedia Professional (CMP) dibandingkan dengan pesaingnya di bidang multimedia mengindikasikan bahwa TPCC belum memiliki positioning yang kuat di benak masyarakat. Tagline merupakan salah satu cara yang dapat digunakan untuk mengkomunikasikan perbedaan tersebut juga belum dimiliki oleh TPCC. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui positioning dari TPCC melalui program studi CMP diantara lembaga pelatihan dan sertifikasi lainnya khususnya di bidang multimedia yang berada di wilayah Bandung dan Jabodetabek. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah Multi Dimensional Scalling (MDS) yang menghasilkan output berupa perceptual map. Perceptual map yang dihasilkan menggambarkan persepsi masyarakat mengenai TPCC melalui program studi CMP dengan pesaingnya bedasarkan tiga belas atribut yang ada. Hasil rekomendasi dari penelitian ini adalah keunggulan program TPCC dikomunikasikan melalui tagline, menyediakan program khusus konsultasi, melengkapi fasilitas akademik, membuat beberapa program yang dapat mengasah softskill, bekerjasama dengan Perusahaan di bidang multimedia, menambah variasi kegiatan pembelajaran