An efficient approximate method for solving fractional differential equations by using Bernoulli polynomials

In the current study, the Bernoulli polynomials are used to obtain the numerical solution of fractional differential equations. For the concept of fractional derivative, we will use Caputo sense. Also, the Bernoulli operational matrix of fractional integration is utilized to reduce the problem to a set of algebraic equations. Finally, some examples are included for demonstrate the validity and applicability of our method

Solving fractional optimal control of systems described by the fractional order differential equations by using Bernoulli wavelets

This paper presents a new numerical method for a class of fractional optimal control problems (FOCPs). The fractional derivative is described in the Caputo sense. The performance index of a FOCP is considered as a function of both the state and the control variables, and the dynamic constraints are expressed by a set of fractional differential equations (FDEs). The method is based upon Bernoulli wavelets. The Bernoulli wavelets is first introduced. The operational matrices of fractional Riemann-Liouville integration and multiplication are derived and are utilized to reduce the given optimization problem to system of algebraic equations. Numerical solutions are presented to demonstrate the feasibility of the method

Comparison of the Therapeutic Effects of Topiramate and Phenobarbital on the Quality of Life of Children under Five with Fever and Convulsion

Background & Objectives: Failure to treat febrile seizure in children leads to physical, psychological and social problems and if not treated timely, might lead to epilepsy which affects the quality of life of children. The purpose of this study was to compare the therapeutic effects of two drugs on the quality of life of children under five with febrile convulsion. Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical study that was done in an interventional manner. In this study, the quality of life of 40 children with febrile convulsion treated with topiramate and 51 children who had the same problem and treated with phenobarbital drug were compared. Data collection tool was EQ5D questionnaire. ANOVA and t-test were used for statistical analysis and data were entered into SPSS statistical software version 22. Results: Mean scores of quality of life in children taking phenobarbital and topiramate were 72.5 and 82.7, respectively. Topiramate had a significant effect on the mean score of quality of life in children with febrile convulsion and increased it. Parental education and early febrile convulsion had a significant relationship with patients' quality of life. Conclusion: Health policy makers, physicians, and other members of health care system must provide access to appropriate educational, medical, and therapeutic services for children with febrile seizure in order to improve their health status. Key­words: Febrile convulsion, Topiramate, Phenobarbital, Quality of Life, Children Citation: Talebianpour H, Talebianpour E, Nemati H, Keshavarz K. Comparison of the Therapeutic Effects of Topiramate and Phenobarbital on the Quality of Life of Children under Five with Fever and Convulsion. Journal of Health Based Research 2019; 5(3): 261-72

Fatty Infiltration in Multifidus Muscles and its Association With Spinal MRI Findings

Background: The present cross sectional study was conducted to evaluate the relation between fatty infiltration (FI) in multifidus muscles and spinal MRI findings among patients who referred to Sina Athar and Kosar imaging centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesMethods: Discovertebral and facet joint degenerative changes, intervertebral foraminal narrowing, disk herniation and central canal stenosis in all lumbar levels and FI in multifidus muscles at the level of L5 vertebra were assessed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of 333 patients, and correlation of these MRI changes with FI was identified.Results: Among 333 patients (174 female), whose data were analyzed, 316 patients mentioned a positive history of back pain. We observed a significant relation between female sex and higher age with degrees of multifidus FI in L5 level. No significant association was found between the existence of back pain and the rate of multifidus FI. There was a significant negative relation between the activity level and the amount of multifidus FI. Considering weekly exercise level and hours of computer use, this association was not observed. Evaluating the relation between end plate and facet joint degenerative process and also neuroforaminal stenosis with multifidus FI, a statistically significant relation was noted. This correlation was not observed for central canal stenosis.Conclusion: We concluded that the degree of multifidus FI was remarkably higher in female gender, older ages and subjects with more sedentary lifestyle. Moreover, a significant correlation existed between abnormal MRI imaging findings (degenerative process, discopathies, foraminal stenosis) and multifidus FI

Genomic and molecular characterization of a novel quorum sensing molecule in Bacillus licheniformis

Abstract Quorum sensing molecules (QSMs) are involved in the regulation of complicated processes helping bacterial populations respond to changes in their cell-density. Although the QS gene cluster (comQXPA) has been identified in the genome sequence of some bacilli, the QS system B. licheniformis has not been investigated in detail, and its QSM (ComX pheromone) has not been identified. Given the importance of this antagonistic bacterium as an industrial workhorse, this study was aimed to elucidate B. licheniformis NCIMB-8874 QS. The results obtained from bioinformatics studies on the whole genome sequence of this strain confirmed the presence of essential quorum sensing-related genes. Although polymorphism was verified in three proteins of this cluster, ComQ, precursor-ComX and ComP, the transcription factor ComA was confirmed as the most conserved protein. The cell–cell communication of B. licheniformis NCIMB-8874 was investigated through further elucidation of the ComX pheromone as 13-amino acid peptide. The peptide sequence of the pheromone has been described through biochemical characterisation

Diagnostic triad of pulmonary anthracofibrosis in spiral CT scan : a retrospective study

Purpose: Anthracosis, a form of pneumoconiosis commonly caused by air pollution and other environmental factors, is a new entity in respiratory disorders. Bronchoscopy and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) are the gold standard of diagnosis. Herein, we evaluated the results of bronchoscopy and chest computed tomography (CT) scans of 187 anthracotic patients. Material and methods: Between April 2016 and April 2017, 187 cases (99 males, mean age 65 ± 10.2 years) who underwent flexible bronchoscopy and TBLB for various indications were considered for this study. CT examinations of these patients were reported as "blind to bronchoscopy results" by two experienced board-certified radiologists. Results: According to the results of bronchoscopy and TBLB, 100 patients were diagnosed as anthracotic. CT scans confirmed 71 of these cases as anthracosis. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of hyperdense non-calcified mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes, known as "brilliant lymph nodes", compared to bronchoscopy were 55%, 92%, 89%, 64%, and 72%, respectively (CI: 95%). Also, there was a positive correlation between anthracosis and brilliant lymph nodes (p-value = 0). Analysis of hyper-attenuated lung with bronchoscopy estimated sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy gave 41%, 94%, 89%, 58%, and 65%, respectively (CI: 95%). The specificity of brilliant lymph nodes, hyper-attenuated lung, and multi-segmental atelectasis as a diagnostic "triad of anthracosis" was 100%. Conclusions: Based on our analyses, the triad of brilliant lymph nodes, hyper-attenuated lung, and multi-segmental atelectasis was identified as a reliable set of imaging findings for the diagnosis of anthracosis

Comprehensive assessment of irrigation water requirements in Iran

A national web-based simulation portal was developed to estimate the irrigation water requirements at plain scale in Iran. The National Water Portal (NWP) consists of four national databases (climatic, soil, crop, and spatial data), a lumped water balance model, and a graphical user interface (GUI). The irrigation water requirements in standard conditions were estimated based on the dual crop coefficient approach presented by FAO 56. Net irrigation requirements (NIR) and gross irrigation requirements (GIR) were calculated for 125 different crops cultivated in the 609 plains in Iran. Results were aggregated at both political and hydrological scales. The statistical comparison between the estimated NIR and reported values in the literature reviews indicates a correlation coefficient of 75% with root mean square error (RMSE) of less than 280 m3 ha−1. Results showed that sugar cane has the highest NIR value (18318 m3 ha−1) among the studied crops, and sugar beet has the second highest NIR value (5100–11896 m3 ha−1). The aggregated amount of NIR and GIR for the entire country was calculated as 47 and 105 billion cubic meters (BCM), respectively. Results indicate that 3.772 million cubic meter (MCM) of water can be saved by applying 15% water stress. By increasing the irrigation efficiency to 65% without considering any water stress, 3.482 MCM of water can be saved

Gender Differences in COVID-19 Deceased Cases in Jahrom City, South of Iran

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and epidemiological features of deceased patients and comparing the discrepancies between male and female patients based on high prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), its irreversible effects and the rising mortality rate in Jahrom city. Methods: This is a descriptive-analytical retrospective study that was conducted from the beginning of March 2020 to the end of November 2020. The study population were included all patients with COVID-19 who admitted to Peymaniyeh Hospital in Jahrom and died of COVID-19. Clinical and demographic data were collected from medical records and analyzed by SPSS software. Results: In this study, 61 patients (57.54%) were men and 45 patients (42.36%) were women. The mean age was 68.7±18.33 in men and 68.82±14.24 in women. The mean hospitalization length was 9.69±7.75 days in men and 9.69±7.75 days in women patients. There was no statistically significant difference between men and women patients (p>0.05). The results showed that 17 (27.87%) men and 28 (45.9%) of women patients had hypertension and the prevalence of this disease was significantly higher in women than men (p=0.01). In this study, 7 (11.48%) men and 13 (21.31%) women had hyperlipidemia. The frequency of hyperlipidemia in women caseswas significantly higher than in men patients (p=0.024). Men cases’ diastolic blood pressure (mean=77.53) was significantly higher than women’s diastolic blood pressure at the same time with a mean of 71.42 (p <0.05). Conclusion: The findings of the study represented the mortality rate in men which is higher than women patients. The prevalence of underlying diseases such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia were higher in women than men. Despite higher mortality among women, symptoms such as fever and dyspnea were less common in women than men