Opinion Formation by Informed Agents

Opinion formation and innovation diffusion have gained lots of attention in the last decade due to its application in social and political science. Control of the diffusion process usually takes place using the most influential people in the society, called opinion leaders or key players. But the opinion leaders can hardly be accessed or hired for spreading the desired opinion or information. This is where informed agents can play a key role. Informed agents are common people, not distinguishable from the other members of the society that act in coordination. In this paper we show that informed agents are able to gradually shift the public opinion toward a desired goal through microscopic interactions. In order to do so they pretend to have an opinion similar to others, but while interacting with them, gradually and intentionally change their opinion toward the desired direction. In this paper a computational model for opinion formation by the informed agents based on the bounded confidence model is proposed. The effects of different parameter settings including population size of the informed agents, their characteristics, and network structure, are investigated. The results show that social and open-minded informed agents are more efficient than selfish or closed-minded agents in control of the public opinion.Social Networks, Informed Agents, Innovation Diffusion, Bounded Confidence, Opinion Dynamics, Opinion Formation

The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on Depression, Anxiety and Stress in women with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Introduction: Gastroesophageal reflux disease is one of the most common diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Stressors along with anxiety and depression, reduce a person's ability to cope with life's problems and play an important role in exacerbating the symptoms of GERD. Women are more fragile and vulnerable in this situation. This study investigates the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction on depression, anxiety, and stress in women with gastroesophageal reflux disease.Method: The present study is a pre-test, post-test and follow-up design. Sampling was done purposefully, in which 30 women with gastroesophageal reflux disease who were referred to Hazrat Rasool Akram Hospital in Tehran were randomly selected. They were divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group underwent stress reduction-based mindfulness training in 8sessions in 2-hour. The control group did not receive any training. Data were collected using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). All participants completed the questionnaire at three time points (pre-test, post-test, follow-up). Data obtained from the research were analyzed by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA and MANCOVA) using SPSS software.Results: The results showed that stress-based mindfulness training is effective in reducing depression, anxiety and stress in women. (p<0.05)Conclusion: The results showed that the effectiveness of stress-based mindfulness therapy could be used as a complementary intervention method along with other common therapies to improve depression, anxiety and stress in women with gastroesophageal reflux disease. &nbsp

Prevalence of intestinal parasites among patients referred to laboratories in Masjed Soleiman city, Khuzestan Province

Background and Aims: Gastrointestinal parasites are worldwide in distribution; the developing countries are more prone to parasitic diseases causing important public health concerns. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among patients referred to the laboratories of Masjed Soleiman city, Khuzestan Province in the first half of 2013.Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study during 6 months, a total of 6062 stool samples from patients referred to the laboratories were tested. Stool examinations were performed by direct method and Scotch tape test for detection of protozoa and helminthes infection, respectively. All stages of this study, was in conformity by the ethical principles.Results: Overall, the prevalence of intestinal parasites was 13.92% (844 cases). Among 6062 samples 14.84% of men and 13% female were infected. Majority of patients were infected by Giardia lamblia (54.98%), Entamoeba coli (20.14%), followed by Entamoeba histolytica (14.33%) Blastocystis hominis (3.55%) and Trichomonas (0.59%). While Hymenolepis nana (0.47%) and Enterobius vermicular (2.36%) are exhibited the minimum prevalence. The highest prevalence was seen in summer and July. Statistically there was a significant correlation between sex and infection rate (P<0.05).Conclusion: The notable finding of this study is the high prevalence of G. lamblia and E. coli, which may be derived from poor personal hygiene, unsanitary wastewater disposal, and use of contaminated water and food.Key words: Intestinal Parasites, Prevalence, Laboratory, Masjed Soleima

Circadian Blood Pressure Variability in Normo and Hypertensive Diabetic Patients

Background: Diabetic patients have a higher prevalence of non-dipping pattern in blood pressure (BP) than general population. Non-dipping arterial pressure pattern is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between the clinical and paraclinical characteristics of the diabetic patients with circadian BP variability.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 114 diabetic patients (more than 18 years old) recruited by consecutive sampling. The patients were divided into two groups according to the results of systolic blood pressure dipping from day to night.Results: Mean age was 58.3±9.6 years; and 63% of the study population was male. Also, 80.7%, 78.1%, and 78.9% of the patients had non-dipper patterns in systolic, diastolic, and mean BP respectively. The dipping pattern did not have any significant association with baseline or clinical characteristics of the patients (p>0.05).Conclusion: The characteristics of the patients do not assist finding diabetic persons who are more likely to have non-dipping arterial pressure pattern. As such, ABPM is an essential tool for proper risk stratification in diabetic patients

Učinak dodanog ribljeg ulja i vitamina E na reproduktivnu sposobnost i metabolički profil mliječnih krava tijekom prijelaznog razdoblja

The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of oral supplementation of dairy cows with a combination of fish oil and vitamin E (Vit E) from approximately 7 days (d) before the expected calving date up to 21 days postpartum, on their reproductive performance and metabolic profile. Eighty Holstein multiparous cows were randomly assigned into one of two ration groups during the transitional period. The treatment group cows (n=40) received a transitional diet (pre-and post-partum based on the NRC 2001) supplemented with fish oil (FO, 100 g/ once per day +Vit E (8000IU/kg/d); and the control cows (n=40) received the same concentrate without FO. Blood samples were collected at 1 week before the expected calving date, and 1, 2 and 3 weeks postpartum. After a voluntary waiting period, all cows received timed artificial insemination (TAI) at 76-81 days in milk (DIM) following the PresynchOvSynch protocol. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed 30-40 days after TAI using a transrectal ultrasonography. Our results showed that the cows fed the FO+Vit E diet had a statistically higher first service pregnancy rate (46.3 % vs. 39.6%, P<0.001) at 30-40 days after TAI than those fed the control diet. Also, cows that consumed the FO+Vit E treatment diet had lower late embryo loss at 40-70 days post insemination than the control. Plasma concentrations of triglycerides (d7, 14, and 21), cholesterol (d7 and 14), glucose (d14), insulin (d-7) progesterone (d14 and 21) in the treatment group were higher (P<0.05) compared to the cows fed control diets. Non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels were not significantly affected by the dietary treatments pre-partum, while β –hydroxybutirate acids (BHBA) levels on day 21 (P<0.05) were higher in the control group. The results indicated that supplementation of the diet with fatty acid and high doses of vitamin E could improve reproductive performance in dairy cattle.Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi učinak peroralnog dodavanja kombinacije ribljeg ulja i vitamina E (VIT E) u obroke mliječnih krava. Dodavanje je započelo približno 7 dana (d) prije očekivanog teljenja i trajalo do 21. dana nakon teljenja, a učinci su procijenjeni s obzirom na reproduktivnu sposobnost i metabolički profil krava. Osamdeset višeteltki pasmine holštajn nasumično je raspoređeno u dvije brojčano ujednačene skupine tijekom prijelaznog razdoblja. Eksperimentalna skupina (n = 40) primila je hranu za prijelazno razdoblje (prije i poslije teljenja na temelju NRC 2001) dopunjenu (FO) ribljim uljem 100 g/jednom dnevno i vitaminom E 8000IU/kg/d. Krave iz kontrolne skupine (n = 40) primile su istu hranu za prijelazno razdoblje bez FO. Uzorci krvi krava prikupljeni su 1 tjedan prije očekivanog datuma teljenja te 1, 2 i 3 tjedna nakon teljenja. Servisno razdoblje svih krava završilo je umjetnim osjemenjivanjem (TAI) koje je prema protokolu Presynch-OvSynch provedeno od 76. do 81. dana laktacije (DIM). Provjera gravidnosti provedena je transrektalnim ultrazvukom 30-40 dana nakon umjetnog osjemenjivanja. Naši rezultati pokazuju da su nakon 1. pripusta 30.-40. dana nakon umjetnog osjemenjivanja krave eksperimentalne skupine (FO + VIT E dodatak) imale statistički višu stopu gravidnosti u odnosu na krave kontrolne skupine (46,3% prema 39,6%, P<0,001). Također, krave koje su primile FO + VIT E dodatak prehrani imale su u odnosu na krave kontrolne skupine manje kasne gubitke embrija 40-70 dana nakon osjemenjivanja. Koncentracije triglicerida (dani 7., 14. i 21.), kolesterola (dani 7. i 14.), glukoze (dan 14.), inzulina (dan 7.) progesterona (dani 14. i 21.) u plazmi krava iz eksperimentalne skupine bile su više (P<0,05) u usporedbi s plazmom krava kontrolne skupine. Prenatalni dodaci prehrani nisu znakovito utjecali na razine neesterificiranih masnih kiselina (NEFA), a razine β hidroksibutirat kiselina (BHBA) 21. dana bile su više (P<0,05) u kontrolnoj skupini. Rezultati su pokazali da bi dopuna prehrane masnim kiselinama i visokim dozama vitamina E mogla poboljšati reproduktivnu sposobnost mliječnih krava

Classification of voice disorder in children with cochlear implantation and hearing aid using multiple classifier fusion

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Speech production and speech phonetic features gradually improve in children by obtaining audio feedback after cochlear implantation or using hearing aids. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate automated classification of voice disorder in children with cochlear implantation and hearing aids.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We considered 4 disorder categories in children's voice using the following definitions:</p> <p>Level_1: Children who produce spontaneous phonation and use words spontaneously and imitatively.</p> <p>Level_2: Children, who produce spontaneous phonation, use words spontaneously and make short sentences imitatively.</p> <p>Level_3: Children, who produce spontaneous phonations, use words and arbitrary sentences spontaneously.</p> <p>Level_4: Normal children without any hearing loss background. Thirty Persian children participated in the study, including six children in each level from one to three and 12 children in level four. Voice samples of five isolated Persian words "mashin", "mar", "moosh", "gav" and "mouz" were analyzed. Four levels of the voice quality were considered, the higher the level the less significant the speech disorder. "Frame-based" and "word-based" features were extracted from voice signals. The frame-based features include intensity, fundamental frequency, formants, nasality and approximate entropy and word-based features include phase space features and wavelet coefficients. For frame-based features, hidden Markov models were used as classifiers and for word-based features, neural network was used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After Classifiers fusion with three methods: Majority Voting Rule, Linear Combination and Stacked fusion, the best classification rates were obtained using frame-based and word-based features with MVR rule (level 1:100%, level 2: 93.75%, level 3: 100%, level 4: 94%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Result of this study may help speech pathologists follow up voice disorder recovery in children with cochlear implantation or hearing aid who are in the same age range.</p

شيوع انگلهاى روده اى در بيماران مراجعه كننده به آزمايشگاه هاى شهرستان مسجدسليمان، استان خوزستان

Background and Aims:&nbsp;Gastrointestinal parasites are worldwide in distribution; the developing countries are more prone to parasitic diseases causing important public health concerns. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among patients referred to the laboratories of Masjed Soleiman city, Khuzestan Province in the first half of 2013.Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study during 6 months, a total of 6062 stool samples from patients referred to the laboratories were tested. Stool examinations were performed by direct method and Scotch tape test for detection of protozoa and helminthes infection, respectively. All stages of this study, was in conformity by the ethical principles.Results: Overall, the prevalence of intestinal parasites was 13.92% (844 cases). Among 6062 samples 14.84% of men and 13% female were infected. Majority of patients were infected by Giardia lamblia (54.98%), Entamoeba coli (20.14%), followed by Entamoeba histolytica (14.33%) Blastocystis hominis (3.55%) and Trichomonas (0.59%). While Hymenolepis nana (0.47%) and Enterobius vermicular (2.36%) are exhibited the minimum prevalence. The highest prevalence was seen in summer and July. Statistically there was a significant correlation between sex and infection rate (P&lt;0.05).Conclusion:&nbsp;The notable finding of this study is the high prevalence of G. lamblia and E. coli, which may be derived from poor personal hygiene, unsanitary wastewater disposal, and use of contaminated water and food.زمينه و هدف: انگل‌های گوارشی شیوع جهانی دارند، بیماری‌های انگلی یکی از مهمترین مشکلات بهداشت عمومی در کشورهای در حال توسعه محسوب می‌شود. مطالعه حاضر به منظور تعیین فراوانی آلودگی‌های انگلی و فاکتورهای خطر وابسته در بیماران مراجعه کننده به آزمایشگاه‌های شهرستان مسجدسلیمان در نیمه اول سال 1392 انجام گرفت.&nbsp; مواد و روش‌ها: پژوهش حاضر از نوع مطالعه مقطعی بود که طی 6 ماه تعداد 6062 نمونه مدفوع از بیماران مراجعه کننده به آزمایشگاه‌ها، به روش مستقیم و چسب اسکاچ به ترتیب از نظر آلودگی تک یاخته‌ای و کرمی مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. تمام مراحل این طرح با رعایت موازین اخلاقی و پژوهشی انجام شد.&nbsp;&nbsp; يافته‌ها: درکل شیوع انگل‌های روده‌ای 92/13 درصد بود. 3039 نمونه از بیماران مرد و 3023 نمونه از بیماران زن گرفته شد. 84/14 درصد مردان و 13 درصد زنان آلوده تشخیص داده شدند و ژیاردیا لامبلیا با 98/54 درصد و&nbsp; آنتاموبا کلی با 14/20 درصد بیشترین فراوانی را در میان انگل‌های‌ مورد پژوهش داشتند. همچنین آلودگی به آنتاموبا هیستولیتیکا 33/14 درصد، بلاستوسیستیس 55/3 درصد و تریکوموناس 59/0 درصد بود. درحالی که آلودگی کرمی اندک و شامل هیمنولیپس نانا 47/0درصد و انتروبیوس ورمیکولاریس36/2 درصد بود. بالاترین میزان آلودگی در تابستان و تیر ماه دیده شد. بین میزان آلودگی و جنس رابطه معنی داری مشاهده شد (05/0&gt;P).&nbsp; نتيجه گيري: یافته مهم در این مطالعه فراوانی قابل توجه ژیاردیا لامبلیا و آنتاموبا کولی در بین موارد آلوده بود که احتمال دارد به دلیل بهداشت فردی ضعیف، دفع غیر بهداشتی فاضلاب و استفاده از منابع آبی و غذایی آلوده بوده است

Study of some Ecological Characteristics and Potential Allelopathic of Otostegia persica in Hormozgan Province

Otostegia persica (Burm.) Boiss. is the medicinal plant of Lamiaceae family that has long been used traditionally in treatment of severe diarrhea, common cold, flatulence, headache, sore, fever, skin allergies, and blood fat and sugar. This research was conducted in 2013 for one year to identify some ecological characteristics and potential allelopathicof O. persica in Hormozgan province. The climate, geology, geo-morphology, land types, associated species, distribution map, growth parameters, soil physical and chemical properties, and the phenology were studied in five regions, including Abmah, Bokhon, Geno, Tangezagh and Bashagard. Also, effects of aqueous extract prepared from leaves of O. persica on 6 species of Brassica oleracea L., Raphanus sativus L., Lepidium sativum L., Coriandrum sativum L., Zinnia elegans L. andCalendula arvensis M. Bieb.were studied. This species is distributed in an altitude of 250-1850 m a.s.l, from the northernmost point of the province to the closest region to the Persian Gulf and from the westernmost point to Bashagerd in the east province. The climate of the study area is arid and hot desert. More than 57.6% of the habitats is mountainous of which 54.6% has limestone formations. The soil texture is sandy loam with pH and EC ranging from 7.42-8.36 and 0.97-1.52, respectively. Aqueous extract prepared from leaves of O. persica inhibited seed germination and decreased speed germination and seedling growth