Nanoscale Carbon Fiber-matrix Interphase Characterization with Atomic Force Microscopy Indentation

At the region between fiber and matrix in a composite there is a region called interphase region, which basically has different properties than bulk matrix and fiber. This region is responsible for the loads transfer from the matrix to the fibers. Size of the interphase region is very small and it is expected to vary from 100nm to less than 1μ m. Direct measurement of mechanical properties of the interphase region is challenging and requires development of novel techniques. To characterize mechanical behavior of local surface, nanoindentation with atomic force microscopy (AFM) was implemented. Using MFP3D AFM, a test setup was developed to characterize the region with variable contact areas and contact forces. A series of radial line scan nanoindentations, starting from the center of cross-sectioned fiber ending in matrix far away enough from interface, was used for characterization. Measurement of quantitative mechanical properties using an AFM indentation requires several things to be considered. For example AFM tip geometry is not simple like Berkovich indenter. AFM tip is small enough to get response from the change in properties in narrow interphase region. Important observation includes the range in measured elastic modulus at matrix side, gradually increasing at interface of fiber-matrix. The remarkable elastic modulus increment proves the AFM tip contacted harder material at interphase region. Such a measurement provides reliable knowledge of interphase properties. Several measurement were conducted to achieve consist and reliable data. The measurement validated with Berkovich indentation method. Sample preparation for such a measurement was found to be a critical issue. A method of cutting samples with ultramicrotome found to be the best method. AFM indentation at interphase of carbon fiber matrix was performed with different indentation depth or loads. Results of AFM indentation helped us to proof the presence of interphase. The interphase of carbon fiber epoxy matrix was measured around 200 nm with this method. Elastic modulus of polymer gradually increases at interphase region from 3.0 GPa up to 10 GPa. Increment of elastic modulus in interphase is attributed to radial alignment of polymer chains. When polymer chains are aligned in a plane it is hard for the indenter to penetrate through the polymer. Elastic modulus measurements with 10, 15 and 30 nm penetration depth, was found to be reasonably similar and independent of penetration depth. We experimentally validated our hypothesis that the ratio of δ m/d, that constraint effect is ignorable while interpreting the nanoindentation data at fiber--polymer interphase, is determinable with a series of indentation with different maximum depth δ m/d at constant distance d from fiber interface. We found that interpretation of nano indentation data at interphase with homogeneous model is valid and not affected by constraint effect, if maximum depth is less than one fourth of distance from the fiber.Mechanical Engineerin

Menstrual disorders in early puberty in girls of 14-17 years old.

یـکی از وقایع مهم زندگی افراد دوران نوجوانی و بلوغ می باشد. عامل شناسایی بلوغ واقعی در دختران شروع اولین قـاعدگی می باشد. علی رغم اینکه قاعدگی در زندگی دختران یک واقعه غیر قابل انکار است، کمتر در مورد آن وعواملی که برآن تأثیر می گذارند مطلب نوشته شده است. هر دختر نوجوانی باید در مورد نشانه ها و علایم اختلالات قاعدگی که نیاز به مراقبت پزشکی دارد، اطلاعات کافی داشته باشد. اختلالات چرخه قاعـــــدگی دارای طیف وسیعی می باشند و برخی از آنها می توانند منجر به مشکلات مهمی شده و حتی جزء علل عمده ناباروری محسوب شوند. به همین دلیل لزوم بررسی دراین خصوص مطرح می باشد. نوع مطالعه، توصیفی تحلیلی می باشد که در آن تعداد 1536 نفر از دانش آموزان مدارس شهر تهران به صورت تصادفی انتخاب شدند و پرسشنامه که شامل مشخصات فردی و اطلاعاتی پیرامون وضعیت قاعدگی بود. توسط پژوهشگر وتعدادی پرسشگر آموزش دیده با انجام مصاحبه حضوری تکمیل شد و اطلاعات آن از طریق آمار توصیفی و استنباطی توسط نرم افزار SPSS مورد بررسی قرار گرفت . یافته های پژوهش نشان می دهد که فراوانی اختلالات قاعدگی ، آمنوره(7/5)، پلی منوره (6/14)، الیگــــــــومنوره (6/24)، متروراژی (7/11)، منوراژی (1/11)، هیپرمنوره(9/22)، هیپومنوره(9/12)، دیسمنوره(75) بوده است. همچنین بین BMI (Body Mass Index )، ورزش واسترس با اختلالات قاعدگی ارتباط آماری معنی دار وجود داشت. بـر اساس نتایج حاصله پیشنهاد می گردد به مسأله تغذیه ،کنترل وزن نوجوانان و کاهش عوامل استرس زا و برنامه ریزی جهت انجام ورزشهای منظم درمدارس دقت کافی مبذول شو

The Role of Geographic (Central and Marginal) Locations in Political Developments in Syria (Since the Start of the Protest Movements in 2011 until the End of 2012)

Political geographers are interested in studying the role of political behaviors and events in political developments. Accordingly, it seems that central and marginal locations played an important role in political developments in the Arab countries of the Middle East (launched in late 2010). Hence, the main question of this research is as follows: "what is the relationship between the different (central and marginal) locations and the political events and behaviors in Syrian protest movements? " Hence, the present study aims at investigating the role of central and marginal geographic locations in the protest movements in Syria. The research was performed by descriptive and analytical methods. The required data was collected from credible international news agencies using event logging method. The collected data was qualitatively analyzed based on author’s arguments. According to the results of the present study, despite the influential role of central and marginal locations in political behaviors and events in Syria,  some issues such as interventions of external forces (regional and international), ethnic and cultural conflicts, armed opposition forces, the formation of religious fundamentalist terrorism have brought the country into a civil war. These factors resulted in prolonged conflicts and continuation of the civil war in Syria. Based on the findings of the present study, the central and marginal locations cannot be considered as the only factor influencing the political developments in Syria. Therefore, further studies are necessary to understand the underlying causes of political developments in Syria. Keywords: Marginal location, Central location, Political developments, Syri

The Mediating Role of Cinema in Representation of Hard Power Case Study: The movie "Zero Dark Thirty"

In recent decades, critical geopolitics has worked to achieve a proper understanding of the conditions prevailing in the world by common discourse analysis along with power relations. One of the areas ­taken into consideration seriously by the critical geopolitical is the media. Media, due to its function in issues related to soft power and common discourse in geopolitics and soft power has the ability to influence the prevailing trends in public opinion through ­ influencing on audiences and conveying information. Various media ­ are widely used to enhance the influence and expansion of soft power and also strengthening the function of hard power by the states ­and especially the world major powers like the United States of America. One of the Media ­ that has been utilized seriously to present an acceptable and also influential picture of states is cinema. In critical geopolitical perspective, ­ capabilities that cinema provides to represent different real and imaginative narratives and also its entertaining and attractive nature for people lead to represent different functions than news media represent of themselves. One of the functions is to use cinema to represent the hard power in order to convince citizens and to convey the message of ­ threats to enemies. As in 2012, in movie "Zero Dark Thirty" the hard power of the United States in the fight against terrorism was represented. This study intends to use the discourse analysis of the film "Zero Dark Thirty" in responding to this question what the mediating functions of cinema are in representation of ­hard power. Keywords: Media, cinema, representation, hard power, soft powe

Development of Professional Ethics Curriculum in the Operating Room for the Current Era of Surgery: A Mixed Method Study

Introduction: The rapid advancement of intricate technologies and the emergence of novel surgical methodologies necessitate nuanced ethical decision-making under high-stress scenarios. Consequently, cultivating an understanding of professional ethics within the surgical environment is crucial for all practitioners involved in patient care. This study was initiated with the aim of designing a comprehensive curriculum for Iranian medical schools, focusing on professional ethics within the operating room. Methods: This mixed-method exploratory research was executed in distinct qualitative and quantitative phases. The first stage involved conducting 12 structured interviews with Iranian faculty members who were experts in education of professional ethics and operating room staffs for assessing the current needs and reviewing extant curricula. The subsequent quantitative phase entailed evaluating the elements of each curriculum axis via the Delphi method. Results: The qualitative phase led to the identification of 45 primary codes, 14 subcategories, and 5 primary categories. The quantitative phase confirmed 3 instructional goal domains, 12 instructional content areas, 8 teaching methodologies, and 10 evaluation methods through the Delphi process. These confirmed components were eventually incorporated into various theoretical and clinical courses as longitudinal integration themes. Conclusion: Based on our findings, we recommend the development of educational objectives targeting cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains and the longitudinal integration of a professional ethics course

Whole Transcriptome-Based Skin Virome Profiling in Typical Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis Reveals α-, β-, and γ-HPV Infections

HPVs are DNA viruses include approximately 450 types that are classified into 5 genera (α-, β-, γ-, μ-, and ν-HPV). The γ- and β-HPVs are present in low copy numbers in healthy individuals; however, in patients with an inborn error of immunity, certain species of β-HPVs can cause epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV), manifesting as recalcitrant cutaneous warts and skin cancer. EV presents as either typical or atypical. Manifestations of typical EV are limited to the skin and are caused by abnormal keratinocyte-intrinsic immunity to β-HPVs due to pathogenic sequence variants in TMC6, TMC8, or CIB1. We applied a transcriptome-based computational pipeline, VirPy, to RNA extracted from normal-appearing skin and wart samples of patients with typical EV to explore the viral and human genetic determinants. In 26 patients, 9 distinct biallelic mutations were detected in TMC6, TMC8, and CIB1, 7 of which are previously unreported to our knowledge. Additionally, 20 different HPV species, including 3 α-HPVs, 16 β-HPVs, and 1 γ-HPV, were detected, 8 of which are reported here for the first time to our knowledge in patients with EV (β-HPV-37, -47, -80, -151, and -159; α-HPV-2 and -57; and γ-HPV-128). This study expands the TMC6, TMC8, and CIB1 sequence variant spectrum and implicates new HPV subtypes in the pathogenesis of typical EV

Evaluation of Cochlear Function in Neonats and Children Suffering from Meningitis by Evoked Otoacoustic Emission test

Objective: Evaluation of cochlear function in neonates and children suffering from meningitis according to EOAE results. Matherials & Methods: In this study 40 children and neonates suffering from meningitis ranging from one day to 12 years old were evaluated with EOAE (DP-OAE &TE- OAE) during 7 to14 day after discharge from hospital Results: From our 40 patients, normal cochlear function was observed in35, bilateral abnormal cochlear function in4 and unilateral abnormal cochlear function in 1. In these 5 cases (12.5% of our patients), detected by EOAE tests, sensorineural hearing loss was seen. This result was confirmed by ABR test in hospital. Conclusion: Abnormal cochlear function and sensorineural hearing loss as a complication of meningitis (if present) can be detected in early stages by the EOAE tests

Audiological Assessment in Neonates and Children Suffering from Meningitis

Objective : To assess neonates and children suffering from meningitis , during the critical and recovery periods , using ABR , EOAE and Behavioral Audiometry. Method and Material: 40 neonates to 12-year-old children were assessed. Using ABR test, the hearing of these cases was evaluated during the critical period-that is , 24-72 hours following the diagnosis. This test was repeated when patients recovered from meningitis-that is 24 hours before discharge (recovery period) Hearing function , again , was assessed 7-14 days following discharge through Immittance Audiometry, Behavioral Audiometry (PTA , SF and BOA). And EOAE (TEOAE and DPOAE) tests procedures. Findings: During the critical period , ABR test revealed normal hearing in 35 patients (87.5%) and severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss (unilateral and bilateral) in 5 patients (12.5%-girl=4, boy=1). The same result were obtained in re-evaluation in the recovery period. On the other hand , 7-14 days after of discharge , Immittance Audiometry and Behavioral Audiometry (including PTA , S.F and BOA tests), confirmed the mentioned results (cross - gcheck). EOAE test (DPOAE and TEOAE) in 35 normal hearing patients (according to ABR test) , showed normal cochlear function. 2 out of 5 cases suffering from severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss revealed normal cochlear function. According to EOAE results , abnormal cochlear function was evident in 3 patients. Conclusion: ABR , EOAE tests , and Behavioral Audiometry in children meningitis during the critical period and recovery period can be used to diagnose any degree of hearing loss with a high level accuracy. The results of persent study is confirmed by previous investigations

Evaluating quality of life and marital contentment among seroconcordant and serodiscordant HIV-infected couples in comparison to non- HIV couples

Background: Quality of life (QOL) and marital contentment, especially marital satisfaction, are important aspects of life. These items are more important in couples involved in HIV due to the present social stigma among this population considering women more vulnerable. The aim of this study was to determine the QOL and marital contentment status among seroconcordant and serodiscordant HIV couples compared to non-HIV ones. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 66 serodiscordant, 74 seroconcordant, and 70 non-HIV couples who referred to Lavan High-risk Behavior Counseling Center, Shiraz during September 2017 and December 2019 were studied. QOL and marital contentment were assessed by World Health Organization Quality of Life-BRIEF (WHOQOL BREF) and ENRICH questionnaire, respectively. Chi-square test for qualitative variables, independent T-test and ANOVA followed by LSD post hoc test for quantitative variables were performed. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 19.0, and P<0.05 was set as the significant level. Results: The score of QOL questionnaire was significantly higher in non-HIV couples than serodiscordant and seroconcordant groups (P<0.001). There was no significant difference among seroconcordant and serodiscordant groups (P=0.99), and infected males vs. females (P=0.13). Non-HIV couples had significantly higher marital contentment in comparison to serodiscordant and seroconcordant groups (P<0.001). No difference was detected among seroconcordant and serodiscordant groups (P=0.81) although more contentment was observed among the males (P=0.01). Conclusion: Our study revealed that QOL and marital contentment were different among non-HIV and HIV infected couples. Besides, marital contentment was higher among males than female�s in infected patients. © 2021, Shriaz University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

A decadal analysis of road traffic accident‐related mortality among women of reproductive age: A cross‐sectional study in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran

Abstract Background Given the extensive impact of road traffic accidents (RTAs) consequences and their potential ramifications on the health of both current and future generations, this study examines the social and demographic factors that influence RTA‐related mortality among women of reproductive age. Methods The study population consisted of cases retrieved from the database of the Legal Medicine Organization, encompassing all women aged 15–49 who succumbed to road accidents between 2011 and 2021. Results The mean age of women in the reproductive age group from East Azerbaijan province between 2011 and 2021 was 33.67 years, with a standard deviation of 9.18. RTAs on main roads accounted for the majority of incidents (395 cases, 50.8%), with 93.7% (728 cases) attributed to road traffic. In 54.4% of these cases, the affected organ was the head and neck, and the primary cause of death in 52.1% was head trauma. Across all age groups, injuries to the neck and head were the most common, followed by injuries to the abdomen, chest, back, and sternum. Conclusion The higher incidence of road accidents in the 25–29 age group highlights the need for targeted interventions to address risky behaviors, inexperience, and peer influences in this demographic. Our observation of passengers experiencing the highest mortality rate emphasizes the vulnerability of road users, particularly pedestrians, in traffic accidents. Pedestrian violations in the 17–30 age group further emphasize the importance of education and awareness campaigns aimed at reducing risky behavior