Information Surfaces in Systems Biology and Applications to Engineering Sustainable Agriculture

Systems biology of plants offers myriad opportunities and many challenges in modeling. A number of technical challenges stem from paucity of computational methods for discovery of the most fundamental properties of complex dynamical systems. In systems engineering, eigen-mode analysis have proved to be a powerful approach. Following this philosophy, we introduce a new theory that has the benefits of eigen-mode analysis, while it allows investigation of complex dynamics prior to estimation of optimal scales and resolutions. Information Surfaces organizes the many intricate relationships among "eigen-modes" of gene networks at multiple scales and via an adaptable multi-resolution analytic approach that permits discovery of the appropriate scale and resolution for discovery of functions of genes in the model plant Arabidopsis. Applications are many, and some pertain developments of crops that sustainable agriculture requires.Comment: 24 Pages, DoCEIS 1

Comparison of academic and nonacademic surgeons in treatment planning for CIII borderline case

Objectives In borderline class III malocclusions, the patients can be successfully treated by the orthodontic or surgical modalities, however; there is no consensus about the method with the best results regarding functional and esthetic parameters. The present study aimed to assess the treatment plans provided by academic and non-academic surgeons regarding borderline class III patients.Methods In this cross-sectional descriptive study, diagnostic records of 20 borderline class III patients were assessed by 8 academic and 8 non-academic surgeons. The treatment plans suggested by the surgeons for patients were compared with the standard treatment plan based on case presentation. The data were analyzed by paired t-test, Wilcoxon test, Kappa coefficient, independent t-test and Chi-square test.Results No significant differences were found between academic and non-academic orthodontists when suggesting orthodontic treatment (p=0.54), orthognathic surgery (p=0.1), single or double jaw orthognathic surgery (p=0.68) and the treatment plans in total (p=0.78) when compared with the standard treatment plan. The mean rate of agreement between the standard treatment plan and the academic and non-academic surgeons’ treatment plan for borderline class III patients was 75.0%±17.41% and 80.0%±17.73% for the orthodontic treatment plan, 80.0%±7.56% and 80.0%±17.73% for the surgical treatment plan, 70.55%±9.4% and 68.61%±9.08% for single or double jaw orthognathic surgery treatment plan, and 79.83%±7.76% and 80.63%±9.79% for the treatment plans in total, respectively.Conclusion Academic and non-academic surgeons both showed higher agreements with the standard treatment plan when suggesting orthodontic and orthognathic surgery treatment plans for borderline class III patients

Analysis and Evaluation of the Role of Mass Media on Urban Branding in Tourism

One of the Provinces competitiveness components in attracting tourists is the urban tourism branding and one of the most influential factors in this field is advertising and informing through the mass media which was a key point and the main goal in this research. This is of applied type in terms of purpose and research and describes the correlation between variables and is a survey way in terms of research method. The statistical sample of this study was 371 people who were selected by stratified random sampling. Finally, the data were analyzed by SPSS software and the variables were evaluated by AHP and ANP methods. The results of the pair comparison of the criteria indicated that the media advertising with the coefficient of 0.3352 has priority over other criteria for urban tourism development based on urban branding. Interpretation of the results of the standardized regression coefficients, namely beta (Beta), showed that the representation of tourism places in the form of tangible facts with beta of 289.0 had the greatest impact on the variable of tourism development and the establishment of urban branding. Therefore, a standard deviation in the representation variable increased the development rate of tourism by a standard deviation of 289.0, on the contrary

Assessing the Relationship between Serum Testosterone Levels and COVID-19 Outcomes in Admitted Patients

Introduction: With the emergence of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, a high toll of mortality and morbidity was imposed on Iran. Despite endeavors to control the disease using the social distancing protocols, isolations, quarantine and vaccination, COVID-19 is still afflicting individuals by mutation and development of new variants. Studies suggest higher morbidity and mortality among men compared to women, and in men with underlying diseases. Studies suggest low serum testosterone level as a risk factor for more severe diseases. We aimed to assess the relation of testosterone level with laboratory investigation and its effect on COVID-19 disease outcomes. Materials and Methods: Seventy patients were selected from those referred to Shohada-e-Tajrish hospital during February 2022 till July 2022. The patients were further categorized in two groups regarding their need for respiratory support: patients who did not need invasive respiratory support and patients who needed invasive respiratory support and were admitted to the intensive care unit. Blood samples were collected for laboratory examination. Each patient was followed for one month, and the outcomes were recorded. Results: The mean age of the participants was 64.44 years including 33 men and 37 women. Mean serum total and free testosterone level was 0.45 nmol/L and 1.22 nmol/L, respectively. Demised patients were significantly older and had significantly lower total testosterone levels. D-dimer was significantly higher in demised patients. Conclusion: Serum total testosterone levels can be used as a prognostic factor to predict COVID-19 patients’ prognosis. Serum total testosterone is inversely associated with disease severity, and lower serum total testosterone level is significantly associated with higher mortality. Moreover, inflammatory markers such as D-dimer can be used to determine prognosis and severity

Estimation of CO2 solubility in aqueous solutions of commonly used blended amines: Application to optimised greenhouse gas capture

One of the key concerns in the 21st century, alongside the growing population, is the increase in energy consumption and the resulting global warming. The impact of CO2, a prominent greenhouse gas, has garnered significant attention in the realm of CO2 capture and gas purification. CO2 absorption can be enhanced by introducing some additives into the aqueous solution. In this study, the accuracies of some of the most up-to-date computational approaches are investigated. The employed machine learning methods are hybrid-adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (Hybrid-ANFIS), particle swarm optimization-adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (PSO-ANFIS), least-squares support vector machines (LSSVM) and genetic algorithm-radial basis function (GA-RBF). The developed models were used in estimating the solubility of CO2 in binary and ternary amines aqueous solutions. i.e. blends of monoethanolamine (MEA), triethanolamine (TEA), aminomethyl propanol (AMP), and methyldiethanolamine (MDEA). This modeling study was undertaken over relatively significant ranges of CO2 loading (mole of CO2/mole of solution) as a function of input parameters, which are 0.4–2908 kPa for pressure, 303–393.15 K for temperature, 36.22–68.89 g/mol for apparent molecular weight, and 30–55 wt % for total concentration. In this work, the validity of approaches based on different statistical graphs was investigated, and it was observed that the developed methods, especially the GA-RBF model, are highly accurate in estimating the data of interest. The obtained AARD% values for the developed models are 18.63, 8.25, 12.22, and 7.54 for Hybrid-ANFIS, PSO-ANFIS, LSSVM, and GA-RBF, respectively