Synthesis & Characterization of New bis-Symmetrical Adipoyl, Terepthaloyl, Chiral Diimido-di-L-alanine Diesters & Chiral Phthaloyl-L-alanine Ester of Tripropoxy p-tert-Butyl Calix[4]arene...

Full Title: Synthesis and Characterization of New bis-Symmetrical Adipoyl, Terepthaloyl, Chiral Diimido-di-L-alanine Diesters and Chiral Phthaloyl-L-alanine Ester of Tripropoxy p-tert-Butyl Calix[4]arene and Study of Their Hosting Ability for Alanine and Na+Bis-symmetrical tripropoxy p-tert-butyl calix[4]arene esters were prepared from the reaction of tripropoxy calix[4]arene (1HPr3) with di-acyl chlorides as bridges in the presence of sodium hydride. The esters, which were synthesized from L-alanine acyl chloride derivatives, are optically active. In all of these esters, calix[4]arene cavities have a pinched cone conformation. The structures of these esters were confirmed by FT-IR, 1HNMRand 13CNMRspectroscopy, elemental analysis and ion positive FAB mass spectrometry.Keywords: Synthesis, Tripropoxy Calix[4]arene, Acyl Chloride, Double Calix[4]arenes, L-alanin

The Study of Mechanical Properties of High Strength Concrete Containing Steel and Polypropylene Fibers

From industrial point of view, recently a great attention has been paid to the use of additives such as steel and polypropylene fibers in concrete and cement products. Investigations have revealed that the addition of steel and polypropylene fibers into normal concrete impart significant improvement in controlling its surface cracking, increase their tensile and flexural strength and durability. Considering the advantages of these additives, high strength concrete samples were produced with different mix design as well as using cement replacement materials such as silica fume according to a well-established experimental set up. The tests show that mixed use of steel and polypropylene fibers give good results in terms of improving structural characteristics of the concrete material developed. In all samples, the surface cracking was decreased significantly by adding suitable fibers in terms of sort, diameter, and length. However, the use of 1 kg polypropylene and 78 kg steel fibers in 1 cubic meter concrete was proposed as optimum mix design, regarding the improvement of compressive, tensile and flexural strength of concrete as well as scientific and practical points of view. So that, these newly developed structural concrete reveals promising potentials for further research and development as well as an structurally important building block material

Complicated Onodi cell mucocele presenting with orbital apex syndrome; a case report and literature review

Mucocele is defined as the accumulation of mucus within a cystic structure lined by mucoperiosteum causing bone remodeling and erosion. The sphenoidal sinus mucoceles, due to its proximity to the optic nerve, can cause ocular complications. A50-year-old woman with a history of previous endoscopic nasal surgery (30 months ago), blurred vision, severe right-sided orbital pain since three weeks ago and severe unilateral headache was admitted. Mucocele related orbital apex syndrome due to the sphenoid sinus mucocele was diagnosed. The optic nerve was fully dehiscent and under compression. Paranasal sinus pathologies must be taken into consideration when a patient with the diagnosis of optic neuropathy and involvement of the superior orbital fissure is approached.

Equity Risk Premiums and Risk Free Rates in Modelling and Prediction of Financial Markets

This paper proposes a novel adaptive framework for modelling financial markets using equity risk premiums, risk free rates and volatilities. The recorded economic factors are initially used to train four adaptive filters for a certain limited period of time in the past. Once the systems are trained, the adjusted coefficients are used for modelling and prediction of an important financial market index. Two different approaches based on least mean squares (LMS) and recursive least squares (RLS) algorithms are investigated. Performance analysis of each method in terms of the mean squared error (MSE) is presented and the results are discussed. Computer simulations carried out using recorded data show MSEs of 4% and 3.4% for the next month prediction using LMS and RLS adaptive algorithms, respectively. In terms of twelve months prediction RLS method shows a better tendency estimation compared to the LMS algorithm

Usefulness of Structural Health Monitoring for the Wood Construction Industry: Global and Local Perspectives

In recent years, multiple historic and contemporary timber buildings have been instrumented with sensors to monitor the performance of wood products and novel engineering systems. While literature states the potential of structural health monitoring (SHM) data to inform decision-making process of key stakeholders in the architects, engineers, contractors and manufacturers (AEC) industry, there is little evidence that the information embedded in SHM data is fully exploited. The objectives of this research are to better investigate the current use of SHM data by the wood construction industry to understand how the industry uses information from this data to make decisions. This research also aimed to understand which features of the currently available SHM platforms and data visualization tools were considered useful by AEC users for a range of different monitoring applications. In order to achieve these objectives, this study included two main phases: 1) a literature review of timber SHM projects with the scope of identifying the main fields of application of SHM in timber buildings, the types of data produced and their use; 2) a survey among mass timber stakeholders in the U.S. Pacific Northwest to understand their perceptions on the value of SHM data, and preferences for ways to access and visualize monitoring data. In the first phase, a systematic literature review was conducted by defining review scopes, literature search, practical screening, quality appraisal, data extraction, analysis of studies, and writing the review. This synthesis of the literature covers peer-reviewed research articles and grey literature investigating timber SHM projects. The literature survey focusing on projects examined in detail seventy-one (71) papers documenting monitoring of 193 timber structures from 1980 to 2019. In the second phase, a web base survey was developed. The questionnaire included a total of 15 questions focused on three sections: 1) demographic information, perceptions on: 2) the applicability and usefulness of monitoring data, and 3) the accessibility and communication of monitoring data. The target population of this study was designers (architects, engineers), contractors and manufacturers in the U.S. Pacific Northwest mass timber industry. In this phase, forty responses were further analyzed. As a limitation of the method, partial responses were not possible to record, so an exact response rate could not be calculated. Results of the literature review show that building owners mostly used SHM to assess structural safety/serviceability and damage of existing and historical buildings. The data-informed actions were mostly taken in buildings monitored for safety/serviceability assessment purposes. The results also show that most of the documented projects were research-driven. These projects reflect activities conducted by researchers. Research-driven projects provided useful information to evaluate a building performance and/or to validate/calibrate numerical models. Results of the survey show that comparing designed with measured performance of a building was considered the most useful SHM application by the respondent group of wood construction stakeholders in the Pacific Northwest. Given the interest of academia and industry in similar applications of SHM data, interaction, between those who produce and analyze the data (mainly researchers) and decision-makers, is considered critical to assure that SHM systems are fully utilized after serving the purpose of a specific study. Survey results on industry’s preferences on visual data representations and interest on novel visualization formats (e.g., holographic data projections) may suggest to SHM technology experts strategies to improve typical graphic formats and implement new approaches for data communication

Septum Perforation in a Patient with Asymptomatic Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which organs and cells are damaged by autoantibodies and immune complexes. This disease often affects the body organs, one of which is the vascular system that manifests itself as vasculitis. Rarely, this vasculitis can cause perforation and epistaxis in the nasal septum. Most people who present this manifestation in lupus are people who have a known lupus case and develop septal perforation over time. Case Presentation: In this article, a patient with epistaxis and septal perforation was referred and, finally, she was diagnosed with lupus. Conclusion: This study shows that other than granulomatous and eosinophilic angiitis (Wegner & Churg-Strauss), systemic lupus erythematous should be in mind in diagnosis of septal perforation

Determining the Incidence of Complications Following Parotidectomy Surgery Based on Type of Drain

Background:Parotidectomy surgery has different complications including facial nerve paralysis, hematoma, seroma, surgical site infection and flap necrosis. The temporary paresis of the facial nerve can occur due to stretching of the facial nerve or its branches in drain usage.  Aim:to investigate incidence of postsurgical complications in parotidectomy using of hemovac and penrose drain. Methods:This longitudinal follow up study was performed in the patients with parotidectomy. The patients with temporary paresis of facial nerve in the recovery room, 24-48 hours, and one week after the surgery were determined. The data (characteristic variables and complications of parotidectomy) were introduced into SPSS 18 and analyzed. The significance level of statistical tests was considered less than 0.05. Results:The mean age of patients was 44.40±15.28 years, and the total incidence of temporary paresis of facial nerve was 16.7%. The frequency percentage of temporary facial nerve paresis at three times of measurement was higher in the group with hemovac drain than group with penrose drain, though these differences were not statistically significant (p-value>0.05). The frequency percentage of hematoma was the same in both groups. Further, the incidence of temporary paresis of facial nerve was higher in complete parotidectomy than superficial parotidectomy, which was not statistically significant (p=0.085). Conclusion:The findings of this study suggest that the temporary paresis of facial nerve may be less in using of penrose drain following parotidectomy. Since the penrose drain is less expensive compared to hemovac drain, thus it seems that penrose drain could be preferred on hemovac drain. In order to achieve more robust evidence in this regard, more studies with larger sample size and longer follow-up period are proposed for the future

Role of Prophylactic Antibiotic Administration in Growth of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in Rhinoplasty

Background: Septoplasty and septorhinoplasty are common surgical procedures in modern surgical practice. Pre or postoperative antibiotic administration has raised concerns about the possible increase in the antibiotic-resistant species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in increasing Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aaureus species (MRSA) in patients, who underwent septoplasty or septorhinoplasty in Loghman Hakim Hospital in Tehran, Iran.Methods: A total of 102 patients, who were planned to undergo septoplasty or septorhinoplasty, participated in this double-blind randomized clinical trial. The patients were divided into the case (n=60, mean age of 28.2 years) and control (n=38, mean age of 28.9 years) groups. Overall, 98 patients participated in the study. The case group received a preoperative injection of cephalothin (1g) and postoperative oral cephalexin regimen (500mg 4 times a day for 7 days). The control group only received a preoperative injection of cephalothin (1g). Vestibular nasal swab cultures were obtained preoperatively and on postoperative day 7. The samples were, then, quickly transferred to the laboratory and cultured on proper media. The results indicated that five MRSA species in the case group and tow MRSA species in the control group were present, postoperatively.Results: The findings of this study suggest that oral antibiotic prophylaxis may lead to a statically non-significant increase in MRSA infection in patients, who require this treatment. Conclusion: Further knowledge of the endogenous nasal flora and the microbiology of common pathogens in patients undergoing septorhinoplasty will help reduce the incidence of infectious complications to a greater level