Value engineering approach in the underpass projects in Iran: A case study in Gachsaran underpass project

Every year country is suffered from a huge amount of damage which is caused by unfinished construction projects. Most of these losses are resulted from the lack of allocation of funds timely as well as the disproportionate costs to the functions of the project. Considering that, Iran is a developing country and due to this development-oriented approach, every year many schemes and projects are implemented. If a technique is to be applied to minimize the large construction projects cost, it can contribute to finish projects rapidly and exploit them quickly. The change proposal by value engineering method is a management technique of cost reduction which is able to increase the qualitative criteria of the project. In this method, contractors propose their creative ideas for improving the running project by applying value engineering pattern and after confirmation and the exact audit, a percentage of savings is awarded to them to encourage and compensate the loss resulted from costs reduction of the project. This study aims to increase the application of change proposal methodology in the civil projects of country and utilize its benefits. Initially, this study tries to introduce this methodology by investigating the fundamental concepts of this method and pointing to the advantages of this managerial technique compared to other methods as well as examining a successful external and internal study and finally, by conducting a value engineering study on it begin to propose a suggestion to extend the application of this managerial technique in the civil projects of country. According to the results of this study, the capabilities of this managerial new method can be utilized optimally to improve the civil projects of country by paving the ground and disseminating the culture of utilization of change proposal in the projects and reforming relevant laws and rules and also removing administrative problems and facilitating the implementation trend of change proposal

Value engineering approach in the underpass projects in Iran: A case study in Gachsaran underpass project

Every year country is suffered from a huge amount of damage which is caused by unfinished construction projects. Most of these losses are resulted from the lack of allocation of funds timely as well as the disproportionate costs to the functions of the project. Considering that, Iran is a developing country and due to this development-oriented approach, every year many schemes and projects are implemented. If a technique is to be applied to minimize the large construction projects cost, it can contribute to finish projects rapidly and exploit them quickly. The change proposal by value engineering method is a management technique of cost reduction which is able to increase the qualitative criteria of the project. In this method, contractors propose their creative ideas for improving the running project by applying value engineering pattern and after confirmation and the exact audit, a percentage of savings is awarded to them to encourage and compensate the loss resulted from costs reduction of the project. This study aims to increase the application of change proposal methodology in the civil projects of country and utilize its benefits. Initially, this study tries to introduce this methodology by investigating the fundamental concepts of this method and pointing to the advantages of this managerial technique compared to other methods as well as examining a successful external and internal study and finally, by conducting a value engineering study on it begin to propose a suggestion to extend the application of this managerial technique in the civil projects of country. According to the results of this study, the capabilities of this managerial new method can be utilized optimally to improve the civil projects of country by paving the ground and disseminating the culture of utilization of change proposal in the projects and reforming relevant laws and rules and also removing administrative problems and facilitating the implementation trend of change proposal

D-1 Gene Polymorphism in Salivary Gland Tumors

Objectives This study aimed to assess PD-1gene polymorphism in salivary gland tumors in patients referred to Khalili Hospital in Shiraz. Methods This case-control study evaluated 48 patients with salivary gland tumors and 100 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. First, 5cc blood samples were obtained from patients and transferred to vials containing anti-coagulated EDTA. DNA was extracted, and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was performed on the samples. The PD-1 gene genotype was determined using the Fermentas kit. After 24 hours of incubation, all the samples were electrophoresed. The genotypes were reported based on the size of bands, and the chi-square test was applied. To compare the alleles, the Fisher’s Exact test was applied. The Yates correction was used to compare the genotype and genotypic alleles based on the tumor grade. Results The mean age was 44.81±15.69 years in patients and 46.54± 13.86 years in controls. Statistical analysis did not show any significant difference in PD1 gene polymorphism between the two groups (P=0.098). No significant correlation was found between the genotype frequency and lymph node involvement (P=0.06), tumor genotype (P=0.12), side (right or left) (P=0.22), tumor location (P=0.27), and size or invasion of the tumor to the surrounding tissue (P=0.14). PD1.3 genotype frequency did not differ significantly between malignant and benign tumors (P=0.6). Conclusion This study did not reveal any significant difference in genotype frequency of PD1.3 in the patient and control groups; however, further studies are needed with a larger sample size to obtain more accurate results

Prevalence of erm Gene among Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus in Shahrekord, Iran

Background: Development of drug resistance to Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) has led to the use of older antibiotics such as macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) for the treatment of infections. MLSB resistance can be caused by several mechanisms, however, one of the predominant reasons is target modification mediated by erm genes. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of erm genes and the frequency of constitutive MLSB (cMLSB), inducible MLSB (iMLSB), and MS phenotypes using D-test and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Methods: D-test was performed on 110 clinical specimens of S. aureus collected from Kashani and Hajar Hospitals in Shahrkord from October 2014 to May 2015. After sampling, DNA extraction was performed by simple boiling method and, in order to detect erm genes, multiplex PCR was carried out on erythromycin resistant isolates using specific primers. Results: The result of this study revealed that among 110 S. aureus isolates examined, 35 (31.8%) were MRSA and frequency of cMLSB, iMLSB, and MS resistant phenotypes were 22 (20%), 9 (8.2%), and 2 (1.8%), respectively. The genes ermA, ermB, and ermC were detected in 27 (24.5%), 28 (25.4%), and 26 (23.6%) isolates. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that cMLSB was the most common phenotype among isolated S. aureus. Moreover, another interesting point to notice in our study was the high frequency of the ermB gene in iMLSB resistant phenotypes

Drug Resistance Patterns and Genotyping of Acinetobacter baumannii Strains Isolated from Patients Admitted to Shahrekord Teaching Hospitals Using REP-PCR

Background & objectives In recent years, Acinetobacter baumannii has been shown to be associated with several nosocomial infections, including pneumonia, bacteraemia, urinary tract infections, wound infection and meningitis. This organism can survive in the hospital environment and rapidly develops resistance to many antibiotics. The molecular genotyping can increase our knowledge about the spread of A. baumannii strains from one hospital to another and their drug resistance. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of antibiotic resistance profile as well as phylogenetic relationships of A. baumannii strains in Shahrekord teaching hospitals. Methods In this study, antibacterial susceptibility patterns of A. baumannii strains isolated from different clinical specimens (urine, blood, sputum) to amikacin, ampicillin/sulbactam, aztreonam, cefepime, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, gentamycin, imipenem, meropenem, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, piperacillin/tazobactam, tobramycin were tested using disk diffusion )Kirby-Bauer( method. Finally, genotyping of A. baumannii strains was performed using REP-PCR method. Results During this study, 50 samples of patients were identified as A. baumannii) 71%(, and their drug resistance rates were assessed. All A. baumannii strains were resistant to ceftazidime and cefepime and also a high rate of resistance to aztreonam, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, amikacin, imipenem, gentamycin, and ampicillin-sulbactam were observed. On the other hand, our results demonstrated nine genotype groups among A. baumannii strains based on REP-PCR method. Conclusion Due to the high prevalence of antibiotic resistance among isolated A. baumannii strains, similarities between different genotypes and the dispersion of these genotypes in different parts of Shahrekord hospitals, the implementation of infection control programs in different parts of the hospital is necessary. Keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii , Antibiotic Resistance , Genotyping , REP-PC

The effect of quince leaf extract on biochemical markers and coronary histopathological changes in rabbits

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is the main cause of cardiovascular disease which is caused by a high-fat diet. Many of these patients use boiled quince leaves for their treatment. However, the supporting scientific information is limit. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of quince leaf on the progression of atherosclerosis and whether it can be an appropriate alternative to statins. METHODS: 24 male rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: normal diet (6 n) and high-cholesterol diet (2% cholesterol, 18 n) for 8 weeks. At the end of the 8 weeks, both groups underwent blood sampling and their biochemical markers were measured. Then, all animals in the normal-diet group and three of the high-cholesterol diet group were killed to investigate atheromic plaque in their coronary artery. The 15 remaining rabbits of the high-cholesterol diet group were randomly divided into 3 groups (5 n) after discontinuation of the fatty diet. The first group was not given any treatment, the second received atorvastatin (0.5 mg/kg) orally, and the third received quince leaf extract (50 mg/kg) orally for 12 weeks. At the end of this period, after blood sampling, biopsy of coronary artery was performed for histological study. RESULTS: The results showed that atorvastatin and quince leaf significantly decreased total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, AST, ALT, AP, BUN, and Cr levels compared with the first group of the high-cholesterol diet group (P &lt; 0.05). No significant difference was found between atorvastatin and quince leaf extract groups in biochemical markers and atherosclerotic plaque in coronary artery. CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin and quince leaf extract can effectively prevent the progression of atherosclerosis in coronary arteries. According to the results of this study and also lower toxic effects of herbal medication compared to synthetic medication, leaf extract can be a substitute for statins in treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease. The anti-atherosclerotic effect of quince leaf is most likely related to its antioxidant components. &nbsp; Keywords: Hyperlipidemia, Atherosclerosis, Coronary Arteries, Biochemical Markers, Atheromic Plaque, Atorvastatin, Quince Leaf Extract&nbsp;</p

Co-Administration of Soy Isoflavones and Vitamin D in Management of Irritable Bowel Disease

<div><p>Background and Aims</p><p>The substantial characteristics of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) are associated with estrogens in women. Both soy isoflavones and vitamin D can modulate estrogen receptors in the colonic smooth muscles. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of soy isoflavones, vitamin D and their probable interactions in women with IBS.</p><p>Methods</p><p>In a factorial blinded randomized clinical trial, 100 women with IBS (age:18-75yr, were randomly assigned in 4 arms to receive either placebo of vitamin D and placebo of soy isoflavones (P+P), or placebo of vitamin D and soy isoflavones (P+S), or vitamin D and placebo of soy isoflavones (D+P), or vitamin D and soy isoflavones (D+S) for 6 weeks. Dosage of soy isoflavone was 2 capsules of 20 mg soy isoflavones per day, and dosage of vitamin D was one pearl of 50’000 IU biweekly. The clinical outcomes were IBS symptoms severity scores (IBS-SSS), disease- specific quality of life (IBS-QOL) and total score (IBS-TS) that evaluated at weeks 0, 6, and 10, and compared to each other.</p><p>Results</p><p>IBS-TS improved significantly in both S+P and D+P groups (p- value = 0.004, 0.015). The interaction effect of soy isoflavones and vitamin D on IBS-TS was significant (p<0.05). The interaction effect of soy isoflavones with vitamin D and the main effect of vitamin D on IBS-SSS were not statistically significant, whereas IBS-SSS decreased significantly in S+P and D+P groups (p-value = 0.001, 0.047 respectively).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Our results indicate that co-administration of soy isoflavones with vitamin D did not improve the IBS- SSS and IBS- QOL; however, it improved the IBS-TS.</p><p>Trial Registration</p><p>Clinical Trials.gov <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02026518?term=NCT02026518&rank=1" target="_blank">NCT02026518</a></p></div

Characteristics of participants in different groups at the baseline.

<p>Characteristics of participants in different groups at the baseline.</p