Simulated Tornado Optimization

We propose a swarm-based optimization algorithm inspired by air currents of a tornado. Two main air currents - spiral and updraft - are mimicked. Spiral motion is designed for exploration of new search areas and updraft movements is deployed for exploitation of a promising candidate solution. Assignment of just one search direction to each particle at each iteration, leads to low computational complexity of the proposed algorithm respect to the conventional algorithms. Regardless of the step size parameters, the only parameter of the proposed algorithm, called tornado diameter, can be efficiently adjusted by randomization. Numerical results over six different benchmark cost functions indicate comparable and, in some cases, better performance of the proposed algorithm respect to some other metaheuristics.Comment: 6 pages, 15 figures, 1 table, IEEE International Conference on Signal Processing and Intelligent System (ICSPIS16), Dec. 201

Relationship between Religious Orientation, Emotional Maturity and Identity Styles with Marital Infidelity

Marital infidelity is a multi-faceted problem that has the tendency of an interpersonal and environmental dimension. This paper focuses on investigating the relationship between religious orientation, emotional maturity, and identity styles with talent of marital infidelity in married women and men in Tehran, Iran. The research method was by correlation and the study sample consists of 121 subjects (62 women and 59 men) who were selected by available sampling method. Marital infidelity, religious orientation, emotional maturity, and identity styles questionnaires were used to collect data. Correlation method and regression analysis was used to determine the predictive factors. The results indicated that there was no significant relationship between religious orientation and marital infidelity. On the other hand, there was a positive and significant relationship between emotional maturity and marital infidelity. The results also showed that from the four identity styles, only confused and committed identity styles are related to marital infidelity. Regression results also showed that commitment and emotional maturity in two steps significantly predicted 22% variance of marital infidelity

FROM WORN-OUT TEXTURE TO IMPROVEMENT AND RECONSTRUCTION

Abstract. A considerable part of old textures in the process of accelerated urbanization has been neglectedand they have become worn-out and inefficient textures. Paying attention to urban worn-out textures is always one of the fundamental problems in old cities. Urban problems experts for years have tried to improve and reconstruct old texture. The most main objective and fundamental strategy of intervention measures in old texture is to return this series to the cycle of urban life. Only in this way one can hope that its historical-cultural values will be sustained. Intervention in cities` old texture is so much risky, time-consuming, complicated and sensitive. This issue was interesting in two last decades for planners and designers. Intervention in worn-out texture of cities provides a route for its improvement and reconstruction. This artile aims to present improvement and construction strategies; this article isdone by descriptive-analytical method.Key words: worn-out texture, intervention in texture, improvement, reconstruction

Evaluation of the Levetiracetam treatment on reduction of epileptic discharges in electroencephalogram in children with epilepsy.

Abstract: Objectives: Epilepsy is a relatively common disease in childhood. In some patients, despite clinical control of seizures, the electroencephalogram (EEG) is clearly abnormal. In some studies, the adverse effects of epileptic discharges on cognition, learning, behavior, and seizure recurrence in children have been identified. In this study, the effect of Levetiracetam on epileptic discharges in the interictal phase of EEG in children with epilepsy was investigated. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 59 children aged 2 to 15 years with epilepsy, whose clinical seizures were controlled by sodium valproate in the last six months, but they still had epileptic discharges in the EEG, were randomly divided into two groups. Intervention group (24 people), whom Levetiracetam was added to sodium valproate, and control group, whom treatment with sodium valproate (35 people) alone was continued, then the patients were followed for one year. Results: The frequency of normalization of epileptic discharges in the intervention and control group was 66.7% and 57.1% (P = 0.500), respectively. The mean time for normalization of epileptic discharges in the interictal phase was 14.55%±14.31%   months in the intervention group and 12.50%±20.18%   months in the control group (P = 0.033). Conclusion: In children with controlled seizures whose EEG was still abnormal, both sodium valproate therapy alone and sodium valproate combined with Levetiracetam were effective in reducing the severity of epileptic discharges. But addition of Levetiracetam to sodium valproate normalizes EEG more rapidly. &nbsp

Zingiber officinale Roscoe reduces chest pain on patients undergoing coronary angioplasty: a clinical trial

Introduction: Evidence from animal studies suggests that Zingiber officinale (ginger) may help prevent ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) in heart. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of ginger on inducing preconditioning on patients undergoing angioplasty. Methods: Thirty-four patients, referred for elective angioplasty, were randomly divided into the control (17 patients) and ginger groups (17 patients). Subjects in the experimental group were provided 250 mg ginger powder in Zintoma capsules per day for 10 days, whereas those in the control group received placebo. The patients underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) (One 45-second balloon inflation and 2 minutes reperfusion). Chest pain scores were assessed immediately after angioplasty and cardiac injury biomarkers were assessed 12 hours later. Results: The average pain score during the balloon inflation in the ginger group was significantly lower than the control group (2.1±1 versus 3.8±1.5, P = 0.04). Troponin I was elevated in both groups after angioplasty, but there was not any significant difference between groups in this regard (P = 0.12 and 0.10, respectively). Conclusion: The use of ginger reduces chest pain during coronary angioplasty but its effect on the release of biochemical markers of myocardial damage is obscure

Feasibility study of wastewater reuse for irrigation in Isfahan, Iran

Abstract: Wastewater reuse is one of the main options that can be considered as a new source of water in regions where water is scarce. The main purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of Isfahan’s north wastewater treatment plant effluent for agricultural irrigation. To evaluate suitability of treated wastewater for irrigation, important indicators like Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Soluble Sodium Percentage (SSP)and Potential Salinity were investigated. In this study the SAR value for effluent was 2.62 and according to approved criteria by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) it was excellent for irrigation,SSPwas 39.7% so it has good quality for irrigation usage and the potential salinity was 4.81 meq/L, thusaccording to approved criteria by FAO it is medium for soil permeability.Also the EC value of effluent was 1250 µS/cm (1.25 dS/m) and according to approved criteria by FAO it was permissible for irrigatio