An IoT-Based System: Big Urban Traffic Data Mining Through Airborne Pollutant Gases Analysis

Nowadays, in developing countries including Iran, the number of vehicles is increasing due to growing population. This has recently led to waste time getting stuck in traffic, take more time for daily commute, and increase accidents. So it is necessary to control traffic congestion by traffic police officers, expand paths efficiently and choose the best way for decreasing the traffic by citizens. Therefore, it is important to have the knowledge of instant traffic in each lane. Todays, many traffic organization services such as traffic police officer and urban traffic control system use traffic cameras, inductive sensors, satellite images, radar sensors, ultrasonic technology and radio-frequency identification (RFID) for urban traffic diagnosis. But this method has some problems such as inefficiency in heavy traffic influenced by condition of the air and inability to detect parallel traffic. Our method suggested in this article detects traffic congestion based on IOT containing a smart system that gives us traffic congestion by calculating the air pollution amount in that area. According to conducted experiment, the results were satisfied

Growth Management Effectiveness: A Literature Review

Although growth management programs have many purposes, a critical one is to contain urban and suburban sprawl. Their efficacy in this regard is not well understood. In this paper, we review a comprehensive set of growth management tools, used by urban planners and policymakers to curb sprawl, starting with the history of the tool, then describing how it works in practice, and finally presenting any available empirical evidence on how well it works to curb sprawl and/or achieve other public purposes. While growth management isn't a panacea for controlling sprawl, it is certainly not the failure implied by critics

Thyroid Function in Epileptic Children who Receive Carbamazepine, Primidone, Phenobarbital and Valproic Acid

ObjectiveIn this study, we investigated the changes of the serum levels of thyroidhormones including Thyroxine (T4), Triiodothyronine (T3), T3 resin uptake andThyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in epileptic children during treatment withanti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) including carbamazepine (CBZ), primidone (PRM),phenobarbital and valproic acid (VPA).Materials and MethodsThis study consisted of four case-series comparisons, was conducted on 115epileptic children (37 girls and 78 boys with an age range between 2 monthsand 15 years, mean: 62.06 ± 44.97 months). These children were divided into4 groups who took either phenobarbital (n=29), PRM (n=28), CBZ (n=29), orVPA (n=29) for 3 months. Thyroid hormone levels (T3, T3 resin uptake, T4 andTSH) were measured at the beginning and three months after starting the study.ResultsAt first, all patients were euthyroid and there were no clinical or laboratoryfindings suggestive of hypothyroidism. Regarding thyroid hormones before andafter the administration of phenobarbital, carbamazepine, valproic acid andprimidone, there were no significant changes in serum T3, T4, T3 resin uptakeand TSH levels.ConclusionOur findings showed that short term therapy with phenobarbital, carbamazepine,valproic acid and primidone had no effect on thyroid function etsts.Key words: Anti-epileptic drugs; Thyroid hormones; Epileptic children.  

The Efficacy of Montelukast in Adjunct with Amoxicillin in Treatment of Acute Otitis Media (AOM) in Children

BackgroundAcute otitis media (AOM) is very common in children. In spite of spontaneously relief, some cases suffer from the recurrence and other complications occurring after AOM. Animal studies have proved that persistence of leukotrienes in the middle ear may play a role in the development of AOM. Based on this statement, treatment with leukotriene modifiers may be effective in the treatment of OM. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of adjunction of montelukast to antibacterial agents in treatment of AOM.Materials and MethodsOne hundred patients aged 2-6 years were randomly divided into two groups. One of the groups (53%) were treated with "amoxicillin alone", 80-90 mg/kg amoxicillin for 10 days, and the other group (47%), received "amoxicillin and montelukast" 5 mg per day orally for 10 days. Patients were evaluated for resolution and complications of AOM at 2 post enrollment visits (days 2-4 and 10-14).ResultsThe patient followed-up for one month and results showed that, treatment with montelukast had beneficial effects on resolution of AOM. In monotherapy (amoxicillin alone) group, 66% of patients and in the montelukast (amoxicillin and montelukast) group, 85.1% were treated.ConclusionIn this study, the montelukast receiving group showed a better response to treatment. Based on this and previous studies, it is recommended to consider the role of inflammatory mediators in AOM. Prescribing montelukast and other leukotriene receptor antagonists may have benefits for the patients

The effect of positive thinking training on hope and adherence to treatment in hemodialysis patients: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Patients undergoing hemodialysis are exposed to psychological problems, such as despair, which in turn can be a trigger for them to abandon the treatment process. This study aimed to determine the effect of positive thinking training on hope and adherence to treatment in hemodialysis patients. Methods This randomized controlled trial was performed on 80 hemodialysis patients referred to two hemodialysis centers in Shiraz, Iran. They were randomly divided into an intervention and a control group. Eight sessions of positive thinking skills training carried out individually on the patients' bedsides. The primary and secondary outcomes were hope and adherence to treatment, respectively. The data were collected using Snyder Hope Questionnaire, End-Stage Renal Disease Adherence Questionnaire, laboratory tests, and weight measurements. Data were analyzed by Chi-square and Paired and Independent T-test using SPSS software version 18. Results After the intervention, the mean score of hope was significantly higher in the intervention group (42.1 ± 6.1) than in the control group (38.7 ± 6.5) (p = 0.024). Moreover, after the intervention, the mean score of adherence to treatment was significantly higher in the intervention group (1070.2 ± 80.1) compared to the control group (1018.4 ± 105.3) (p = 0.019). In addition, blood urea nitrogen, phosphate and inter-dialytic weight gain were lower in the intervention group compared to the control group after the intervention. Conclusions The findings showed that positive thinking interventions could lead to improvement in hope and adherence to treatment in hemodialysis patients. Positive thinking training could be used in caring of hemodialysis patients to improve their hope and adherence to treatment. Trial registration RCT Registry: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials; RCT registration number: IRCT20180915041044N1; Registration date: 19/12/2018

Hybrid vigor estimation in some fresh Cucumber Hybrids

Since cucumber is one of the most economically important horticultural crops, production of hybrid seeds is very important for obtaining a profitable fruit yield. Detecting the best combination of the parents is one of the most important stages in each breeding program. By selecting parents with high heterosis in their progenies, breeders will be able to generate hybrids with high yield. This study was, thus, undertaken to examine heterosis effect on yield, yield components, and some qualitative characteristics in some fresh cucumber fruit hybrids and to select the best cross. Eighteen cucumber hybrids along with a standard national hybrid “Guilan 2” generated by VBG Company and a standard international hybrid 'PS' were planted in the Research Field of Lorestan University, Khoramabad, Iran, during 2013-2014. There were significant differences between genotypes for all measured characteristics. The mean comparison for different traits showed that B10×A4 hybrid had the highest total and marketable fruit yield and B12×A0 hybrid had the greatest early fruit yield. The greatest high parent heterosis, mid-parent heterosis and standard heterosis were belonged to B10×A11 and B10×A4 hybrids, for total fruit yield and marketable fruit yield, respectively. The greatest mid-parent heterosis and high parent heterosis were also related to B12×A0 and B10×A15 hybrids, for early fruit yield and time to first female flower appearance, respectively. Since there were notable differences between studied hybrids in terms of a number of examined traits, they can be used in crossing programs with the aim of releasing suitable hybrid cultivar

Assessment of General and Specific Combining Ability and Heterosis of Some Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Lines for Vegetative Traits

Introduction: Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is one of the most widely cultivated vegetables. Plant length is a quantitative trait is controlled by many genes. These traits are difficult to study due to the complex nature of their inheritance. The combining ability estimation is useful in determining the breeding value of cucumber lines by suggesting the appropriate use in a breeding program. In studying combining ability, the most commonly utilized experimental approach is the diallel design. General combining ability is a measure of additive genetic action; and specific combining ability (SCA) is deviation from additivity. General combining ability is a main effect and SCA is an interaction. The aim is to determine the breeding value of the cross. Heterosis has been utilized to exploit dominance variance through production of hybrids. There are reports on positive and negative heterosis in cucumber however, there are differences between reports. This research was conducted to estimate general and specific combining ability and heterosis in cucumber inbred lines and hybrids to produce hybrids with high yield and quality. Material and Methods: In the spring of 2014, the seven parental lines and their 21 F1 hybrid were planted at the University of Guilan, in loamy sand field. Three replications were arranged in a randomized complete block design. The sandy loam soil was prepared by plowing and disking and formed into raised beds by plowed and harrow prior to plant establishment. Rows were on 1 m centers and plants were about 25 cm apart in the row. Prior to planting 150 kg·ha-1 of nitrogen from urea and 100 kg·ha-1 of phosphorous from triple superphosphate and 80 kg·ha-1 of potassium sulfate was applied. Side dressing with the same amount of nitrogen and phosphorus occurred at 50% flowering stage. Irrigation with 250 m3·ha-1, three times weekly, was begun at plant first flowering. In each replication, 12 individuals of each line or hybrid were spaced 25 cm within a row (plot) on 1 m centers. Data were collected from 12 plants per plot of each accession. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) of data were performed and where appropriate, ANOVA was followed by LSD mean comparison of trait values. For the combining ability analysis (GCA), measurements of plants within each plot were averaged, and means were used as experimental units for analysis by the computer program Diallel. Results and Discussion: Genotypes has significant effect on all measured characteristics. The highest plant length was related to B6 line and the lowest plant length was related to A0×B6 and B12×B6 hybrids. The highest number of lateral branch was related to B10×A11, B12×A0 and Guilan while the lowest number was related to A0, B12×B6, A15×A11. The highest plant length to first fruit was related to A4×A11 hybrids and the lowest plant length to first fruit was related to B10, B12, B10×A15 and B12×A4. The mean square of general combining ability (GCA) were significant only for plant height up to the first fruit but the mean square of specific combining ability revealed significant differences for all traits that indicated the important effects of dominance genes in inheritance of traits. Plant height up to first fruit has further general combining which reflects the non-additive genes action. The highest parent and standard negative heterosis for plant length was related to B12×B6 hybrid. This hybrid also showed the highest negative heterosis for number of lateral branch. The highest high parent negative heterosis for plant length to first fruit was related to A11×A4 hybrid while the highest standard negative heterosis was related to A0×A4 hybrid and the highest positive heterosis for this trait was obtained from B10×B12 and B12×A4 hybrids. Conclusion: Although heterosis is affected a plant length is the primary target for increasing yield in high density cultivation, the biological complexity of this trait makes it difficult to draw meaningful conclusions in order to track individual causal elements involved in heterosis. Cucumber breeders might develop determinate or indeterminate cultivars based on high GCA for certain traits. Cucumber breeders might develop cucumber cultivars with optimal vegetative growth based on high general combining ability for their traits. The results revealed B10 and A4 lines are proposed for hybrid production with optimum vegetative growth. The hybrid obtained by crossing of B12 and B6 are proposed for cultivation with high plant density

The Survey of Hospitals Managers’ Attitude about Patient Complaints Investigating System in Hospitals Affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: According to the importance of managers’ role in improving quality of health services, we performed this study to survey hospital managers attitude about patient complaints investigating system in hospitals affiliated to Mashhad university of Medical sciences in 2015. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in 12 hospitals affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. One questionnaire that we had confirmed the reliability and validity of that was used to assess hospitals managers’ attitude about patient complaints investigating system. Study population was all hospital managers in all levels. We studied them as census. Finally 130 completed questionnaires were analyzed with SPSS Version 16. Results:20% of managers assessed the current status of patient complaints investigating system as improper. 35% of manager expressed not using information that derived from patients’ complaint as most defect in patient complaints investigating system. 60% of managers believed that the most impact of reinforcement patient complaints investigating system is improvement of services quality and system validity. Finally 56% of managers expressed staff dissatisfaction is the great reason for patient complaints. Conclusion: According to the findings and relatively positive attitude of managers, it is necessary to organize a team for improving and revising patient complaints investigating system in each hospital. Also managers’ attention to staff satisfaction and their educational needs is important for reducing patient complaints

Is Transit-Oriented Development Affordable for Low and Moderate Income Households?

The transportation and land use planning paradigm is shifting away from segregated uses connected by highways and roads to more compact, mixed-use developments connected by high-quality transit. This new paradigm has brought transit-oriented development (TOD) to the fore, and researchers continue to highlight advantages of this style of well-integrated land use and transportation planning. When it comes to affordability, what counts isn’t housing costs alone but the combination of housing plus transportation costs (H+T). If TODs do, in fact, command higher rents due to increased transit accessibility, this creates an issue of social equity, especially if higher housing costs are not offset by transportation-related cost savings. Promoting a development style that limits access for transit-dependent populations by pricing those residents out of the market could potentially be counterproductive. This study (Phase I) assesses rent premiums associated with living in TODs and answers the question of whether TOD-style development is affordable for low- and moderate-income households by first, compiling a complete 100% inventory of free-standing TODs in the U.S. It also identifies measures taken by decision-makers (mainly jurisdictions and transit operators) and TOD developers to make housing affordable for low- and moderate-income households. Our complete inventory has 183 potential TODs within 26 rail-served regions. Among them, 85 TODs within 23 regions meet our TOD criteria. Our analysis reveals that there is a significant level of variability across regions, TODs and individual housing projects within TODs in terms of numbers and shares of designated and naturally occurring affordable units. Overall, one-third of the TODs have units that are naturally affordable to families of two people who earn less than 80% of the area median income, one-fourth of the TODs have such units for families of four people, and only 15% of them offer the same to families of three people. Interestingly, 15% of the projects within TODs are 100% affordable, while 60% of the projects offer either less than 10% or none of their units as affordable. Finally, there are only a few measures designed to specifically promote/ incentivize/ regulate the production of affordable housing in TODs