Frustration of triplet interaction in spin-glass background

Parisi demonstrated in 1979 that pairwise interactions exhibit a glass spin phase when there is disorder. While he discovered an equilibrium solution of the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick (SK) spin-glass model and we know it as a continuous phase transition, the model dedicated to pairwise interactions and higher-order interactions has not been addressed. This research intends to determine whether this phase exists in triplet interactions. Due to the intractable nature of the three interacting spins alone, we employed a perturbation approach to provide an analytical solution for the triplet interactions in the background of the SK spin-glass model. Our results show the existence of this phase in the third-order interaction and a sudden transition that indicates a change in the nature of a glassy spin system transitioning from the continuous order to the first order. It causes a forward shift in the critical temperature by identifying the frustration of triplet interactions.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure

Clinical trial of the effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on glycemic control and markers of lipid profiles in diabetic hemodialysis patients

Abstract Purpose: The current study was conducted to determine the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on glycemic control and markers of lipid profiles risk in diabetic hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: This randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed among 60 diabetic HD patients. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to take either 120 mg/day of CoQ10 supplements or placebo (n= 30each group) for 12 weeks. Results: After 12 weeks of intervention, CoQ10 supplementation, compared with the placebo, resulted in a significant decrease in serum insulin concentrations (− 2.5 ± 4.0 vs.+ 2.8 ± 5.3 μIU/mL, P < 0.001), homeostasis model of assessment estimated insulin resistance (− 0.9 ± 2.1 vs. + 1.2 3.0, P = 0.002), and significant increase in the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+ 0.009 ± 0.01 vs. − 0.02 ± 0.05, P = 0.003). In addition, a trend toward a greater decrease in serum triglycerides (− 5 ± 53 vs. + 17 ± 44, P = 0.078) and VLDL-cholesterol levels (− 0.9 ± 10 vs. + 3 ± 9, P = 0.078) was observed in the CoQ10 group compared to the placebo group. We did not observe any significant effect of CoQ10 supplementation on fasting glucose, HbA1c and other lipid profiles compared with the placebo. Conclusions: Overall, our study supported that CoQ10 supplementation to diabetic HD patients for 12 weeks had beneficial effects on markers of insulin metabolism, but did not affect fasting glucose, HbA1c, and lipid profiles. Keywords: Coenzyme Q10 supplementation · Hemodialysis · Glycemic control · Lipid profile

Band ratios matrix transformation (BRMT): A sedimentary lithology mapping approach using ASTER satellite sensor

© 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Remote sensing imagery has become an operative and applicable tool for the preparation of geological maps by reducing the costs and increasing the precision. In this study, ASTER satellite remote sensing data were used to extract lithological information of Deh-Molla sedimentary succession, which is located in the southwest of Shahrood city, Semnan Province, North Iran. A robust and effective approach named Band Ratio Matrix Transformation (BRMT) was developed to characterize and discriminate the boundary of sedimentary rock formations in Deh-Molla region. The analysis was based on the forward and continuous division of the visible-near infrared (VNIR) and the shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectral bands of ASTER with subsequent application of principal component analysis (PCA) for producing new transform datasets. The approach was implemented to ASTER spectral band ratios for mapping dominated mineral assemblages in the study area. Quartz, carbonate, and Al, Fe, Mg –OH bearing-altered minerals such as kaolinite, alunite, chlorite and mica were appropriately mapped using the BRMT approach. The results match well with geology map of the study area, fieldwork data and laboratory analysis. Accuracy assessment of the mapping result represents a reasonable kappa coefficient (0.70%) and appropriate overall accuracy (74.64%), which verified the robustness of the BRMT approach. This approach has great potential and capability for mapping sedimentary succession with diverse local–geological–physical characteristics around the world

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of pyruvate kinase M2 isoenzymatic assay in diagnosing colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND: Screening programmes exist in many countries for colorectal cancer. In recent years, there has been a drive for a non-invasive screening marker of higher sensitivity and specificity. Stool-based pyruvate kinase isoenzyme M2 (M2-PK) is one such biomarker under investigation. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of M2-PK as a screening tool in colorectal cancer. METHODS: A literature search of Ovid Medline, EMBASE and Google Scholar was carried out. The search strategy was restricted to human subjects and studies published in English. Data on sensitivity and specificity were extracted and pooled. Statistical analysis was conducted using summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve methodology. RESULTS: A total of eight studies were suitable for data synthesis and analysis. Our analysis showed a pooled sensitivity and specificity for M2-PK to be 79% (CI 73%–83%) and 80% (CI 73%–86%), respectively. The accuracy of M2-PK was 0.85(0.82–0.88). CONCLUSION: Faecal M2-PK assay has a relatively good sensitivity and specificity and high accuracy for screening colorectal cancer

A dish-based semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for assessment of dietary intakes in epidemiologic studies in Iran: design and development

BACKGROUND: Earlier forms of food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) used in Iran have extensive lists of foods, traditional categories and food-based design, mostly with the interviewer-administered approach. The aim of the current paper is to describe the development of a dish-based, machine-readable, semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (DFQ). METHODS: Within the framework of the Study on the Epidemiology of Psychological, Alimentary Health and Nutrition project, we created a novel FFQ using Harvard FFQ as a model. RESULTS: THE FOLLOWING STEPS WERE TAKEN TO DEVELOP THE QUESTIONNAIRE: Construction of a list of commonly consumed Iranian foods, definition of portion sizes, design of response options for consumption frequency of each food item and finally a pilot test of the preliminary DFQ. From a comprehensive list of foods and mixed dishes, we included those that were nutrient-rich, consumed reasonably often or contributed to between-person variations. We focused on mixed dishes, rather than their ingredients, along with foods. To shorten the list, the related food items or mixed dishes were categorized together in one food group. These exclusions resulted in a list of 106 foods or dishes in the questionnaire. The portion sizes used in the FFQ were obtained from our earlier studies that used dietary recalls and food records. The frequency response options for the food list varied from 6-9 choices from "never or less than once a month" to "12 or more times per day". CONCLUSIONS: The DFQ could be a reasonable dietary assessment tool for future epidemiological studies in the country. Validation studies are required to assess the validity and reliability of this newly developed questionnaire.AH Keshteli, Ahmad Esmaillzadeh, Somayeh Rajaie, Gholamreza Askari, Christine Feinle-Bisset and Peyman Adib

The impact of teamwork on an organization’s performance: a cooperative game’s approach

In this article we study the impact of teamwork on the organizations’ performance, considering a cooperative game’s framework. To promote the teamwork culture, performance indexes are considered individually and collectively, respectively, and by comparing the scores that every employee earns individually and collectively, their differences become obvious. In this approach, a cooperative games’ model is used in order to improve the organization’s performance. The proposed model, in addition to evaluating the organization and employee's activities, can implement all payments, including the overtime pay, reward, etc., fairly and along with increasing performance and satisfaction. The cooperative approach creates effective communications between employees and authorities and enhances their motivation for teamwork. Moreover, results can be used for decisions related to employees (such as promotion, transition, firing, and detachment), analysis of training requirements, employees’ development, and research and plan valuation. Our findings show that the collaborative coefficient is a key factor in increasing productivity and improving the efficiency of an organization in the long run. The collaborative coefficient is a new concept in teamwork that has rarely been considered in scientific research.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Comparison of different algorithms to map hydrothermal alteration zones using ASTER remote sensing data for polymetallic Vein-Type ore exploration: Toroud-Chahshirin Magmatic Belt (TCMB), north Iran

© 2019 by the authors. Polymetallic vein-type ores are important sources of precious metal and a principal type of orebody for various base-metals. In this research, Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) remote sensing data were used for mapping hydrothermal alteration zones associated with epithermal polymetallic vein-type mineralization in the Toroud-Chahshirin Magmatic Belt (TCMB), North of Iran. The TCMB is the largest known goldfield and base metals province in the central-north of Iran. Propylitic, phyllic, argillic, and advanced argillic alteration and silicification zones are typically associated with Au-Cu, Ag, and/or Pb-Zn mineralization in the TCMB. Specialized image processing techniques, namely Selective Principal Component Analysis (SPCA), Band Ratio Matrix Transformation (BRMT), Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) and Mixture Tuned Matched Filtering (MTMF) were implemented and compared to map hydrothermal alteration minerals at the pixel and sub-pixel levels. Subtle differences between altered and non-altered rocks and hydrothermal alteration mineral assemblages were detected and mapped in the study area. The SPCA and BRMT spectral transformation algorithms discriminated the propylitic, phyllic, argillic and advanced argillic alteration and silicification zones as well as lithological units. The SAM and MTMF spectral mapping algorithms detected spectrally dominated mineral groups such as muscovite/montmorillonite/illite, hematite/jarosite, and chlorite/epidote/calcite mineral assemblages, systematically. Comprehensive fieldwork and laboratory analysis, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), petrographic study, and spectroscopy were conducted in the study area for verifying the remote sensing outputs. Results indicate several high potential zones of epithermal polymetallic vein-type mineralization in the northeastern and southwestern parts of the study area, which can be considered for future systematic exploration programs. The approach used in this research has great implications for the exploration of epithermal polymetallic vein-type mineralization in other base metals provinces in Iran and semi-arid regions around the world