Systems and Methods for Post-Treatment of Dry Adhesive Microstructures

Provided are systems and methods for the post-treatment of dry adhesive microstructures. The microstructures may be post-treated to comprise mushroom-like flaps at their tips to interface with the contact surface. In some aspects, a change in material composition of the microstructures in a dry adhesive may affect mechanical properties to enhance or diminish overall adhesive performance. For example, conductive additives can be added to the material to improve adhesive performance. In other aspects, microstructures comprising conductive material may allow for pre-load engagement sensing systems to be integrated into the microstructures

Effect of inhaling the vapor of lavender oil on summative examination scores in nursing students: a controlled clinical trial

Background and aims: Examination score is important for destination of students due to educational and occupational issues. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of inhaling the vapor of lavender on summative examination scores in nursing students. Methods: This single-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 33 nursing students at summative examination session of public health course. The intervention group (n=16) breathed vapor of lavender and the control group (n=17) breathed water vapor for 30 minutes just before the exam and after intervention, the examination scores (0-20) were compared. To analyze the findings, the SPSS software 18 and statistical tests including Spearman’s correlation coefficient, Pearson correlation coefficient, Mann–Whitney U test and independent sample t-test were used. Results: The demographic variables as well as the mean of examination scores were not significantly different between two groups (P>0.05). There were no correlations between examination score and age, sleep time, gender, marital status, and parents’ education level of the students. Conclusion: Although aromatherapy with lavender, as administered in this study, does not affect examination score of students, regarding that the students reported aromatherapy as pleasant; It suggests it is used in examination session as an easy method to apply

ADAPTIVE PREDICTIVE FUNCTIONAL CONTROL WITH SIMILAR PI STRUCTURE USING UNSTRUCTURED SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION BASED ON LAGUERRE FUNCTIONS

ABSTRACT In this paper, unstructured system identification algorithm based on orthonormal Laguerre functions is combined with predictive functional control such that similar classical PI controller is constructed. Lack of mathematical model and initial information about process is not a restriction for mentioned algorithm and unstructured system identification based o

Pregnancy Outcomes Among Hospitalized Patients Infected With 2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus in Qom, Iran, in Oct-Nov. 2009

Background: Pandemic H1N1 influenza A 2009 (H1N1/09) virus has been identified as a leading cause of febrile respiratory diseases worldwide, and pregnant women constitute a high risk group. Objectives: To determine the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pregnant women with H1N1 influenza A hospitalized in university hospitals of Qom city in Iran. Patients and Methods: This descriptive retrospective study was conducted using existed data related to October and November 2009. All pregnant women with influenza manifestations were admitted to the hospitals to undergo nasopharyngeal culture. H1N1 virus was confirmed in 11 cases. Data including demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory test results, and pregnancy complications was extracted from medical records, and analyzed by descriptive statistics. Results: The mean age of the women was 28.1 ± 4.7 years with a mean gestational age of 28.7 ± 10.9 weeks. The most common clinical manifestations included coughing (100%), fever (87.5%), and dyspnea (75%). The most common abnormal test was anemia (88%). Pregnancy complications included preterm delivery (36.3%), low birth weight (18%), oligohydramnios (9%), gestational diabetes (9%), and fetal distress (9%). Also one (12.5%) wound dehiscence happened. Conclusions: vaccination seems to be necessary to prevent this potentially fatal infectious disease. Furthermore, timely prescription of antiviral medications is recommended to decrease the risk of severe complications

A Methodological Critique of “The Imagist Historian or Formalist Poet”

‘Resāle-ye- Irād” written by Mirza Fathali Akhundzadeh, Iranian intellectual of the Qajar period, essentially involves a fictional and critical dialogue between Reza Qoli Khan Hedayat and Akhundzadeh about the historical text of "Rawdhat al-Safāye-Nāseri" and some of its historiographical issues. Akhundzadeh strongly criticizes Hedayat’s approach and method of historiography. In this controversial dialogue, due to the fact that Reza Qholi Khan Hedayat is a poet, the misuse of his poems in the text, is the main topic of this debate. Extended Abstract Reza Qolikhan Hedayat, entitled Lalah Bashi, was a thirteenth-century writer, poet, and historian in Iran during the reigns of Mohammad Shah and Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar. "Rawdhat al-Safa-ye-Naseri" is one of the most important histories of Qajar period. This historical book is actually called "Appendices to Rawdhat al-Safa", which is actually written in the following of the book "Rawdha al-Safa" by Khvandmir. ‘Resāle-ye- Irād” written by Mirza Fathali Akhundzadeh, Iranian intellectual of the Qajar period, essentially involves a fictional and critical dialogue between Rezaghili Khan Hedayat and Akhundzadeh about the historical text of "Rawdhat al-Safaye-Naseri" and some of its historiographical issues. Akhundzadeh strongly criticizes Hedayat’s approach and method of historiography. In this controversial dialogue, due to the fact that Reza Qholi Khan Hedayat is a poet, the misuse of his poems in Rodhat Al-Safa Naseri is the main topic of this debate. This controversial dialogue between Akhundzadeh and Hedayat in “Resāley-e Irād” is one of the most important polemical tensions in the history of literary criticism and historiography criticism in Iran. This article will show the internal possibilities of this generic debate in recognizing the foundations of Persian literary criticism and historical historiography criticism

Adaptive Predictive Functional Control of X-Y Pedestal for LEO Satellite Tracking Using Laguerre Functions

In this paper, Predictive Functional Control (PFC) is used for X-Y pedestal control for LEO satellite tracking. According to the nonlinear characteristics of the X-Y pedestal and pedestal model variation caused by its operating point change, the use of system identification algorithm, which is based on special types of orthonormal functions known as Laguerre functions, is presented. This algorithm is combined with PFC to obtain a novel adaptive control algorithm entitled Adaptive Predictive Functional Control (APFC). In this combination, Laguerre functions are utilized for system identification, while the PFC is the control law. An interesting feature of the proposed algorithm is its desirable performance against the interference effect of channel X and channel Y. The proposed APFC algorithm is compared with Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controller using simulation results. The results confirm that the proposed controller improves the performance in terms of the pedestal model variations; that is, the controller is capable of adapting to the model changes desirably

Properties of cucurbita pepo l. In islamic persian medicine

Background and objectives: Cucurbita Pepo L. is a one-year creeper plant with wide heart shaped leaves covered by tiny trichome with many benefits in its fruit, seed, leaf and root. Currently some studies has been directed to show its preventive and curetive properties for some diseases as an alternative or supplement for other methods. The purpose of present study was to investigate the mentioned properties of Cucurbita Pepo L in Islamic medicine and traditional medicine and to find modern studies on these properties. Methods: The resources used by the researchers in this study have been Tradition references including books and articles Results: Books and articles demonstrated its effectiveness on prevention and treatment of different diseases such as diabetes, anemia, skin diseases, brain diseases and parasitic diseases but there is not an absolute and reliable idea due to dispersal of studies and absence of adequate well controlled randomized clinical trial Conclusion: it seems that further well-designed clinical trials is necessary to discover and confirm the advantages of this miraculous plant

pH-Responsive Hybrid Hydrogels as Antibacterial and Drug Delivery Systems

This study describes the design and synthesis of organic–inorganic hybrid hydrogels based on an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) composed of polyaspartic acid crosslinked by graphene nanosheets as the primary network and poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) as the secondary network. Silver, copper oxide, and zinc oxide nanoparticles were formed within the gel matrix, and the obtained hydrogel was applied to a load and controlled release of curcumin. The loading of curcumin and the release of this drug from the gels depended on the nanoparticle’s (NP’s) content of hydrogels as well as the pH of the medium. The synthesized hydrogels showed antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. The ability of the synthesized hydrogels to incapacitate bacteria and their loading capacity and controlled release of curcumin qualify them for future therapies such as wound-dressing applications

Relationships between spiritual health and perceived stress with breastfeeding adequacy in mothers with infants aged 1–6 months

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that psycho-spiritual state of mothers may have significant effects on their breastfeeding. The most common cause of nonexclusive breastfeeding is inadequate breastfeeding; therefore, this study examined the relationship between spiritual health and perceived stress with breastfeeding adequacy in mothers with infants aged 1–6 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study was performed on 186 mothers with infants aged 1–6 months, who referred to the health centers in Dorud city of Lorestan province, Iran, in 2021, which were selected based on cluster sampling. Data were collected through four questionnaires including demographic–fertility, spiritual health, perceived stress, and breastfeeding adequacy. Data was analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22 using descriptive and analytical statistics. RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation (SD) values of spiritual health, perceived stress, and breastfeeding adequacy were 99.59 ± 12.96, 23.8 ± 72.19, and 55.67 ± 7.67, respectively. There was a significant positive relationship between spiritual health and breastfeeding adequacy (P < 0.001, r = 0.268). In addition, there was a significant negative relationship between perceived stress and breastfeeding adequacy (P = 0.002, r = −0.231). CONCLUSION: Breastfeeding adequacy has a significant positive relationship with spiritual health and a significant negative relationship with perceived stress. Since infants are one of the most vulnerable groups and breastfeeding is the best way to support their health and reduce infant mortality rates, breastfeeding adequacy can be improved by reducing stress and promoting spiritual health