Optimal irrigation water allocation using a genetic algorithm under various weather conditions

Growing water scarcity, due to growing populations and varying natural conditions, puts pressure on irrigation systems, which often are the main consumptive water users. Therefore, water resources management to improve the allocation of limited water supplies is essential. In this study, a non-linear programming optimization model with an integrated soil/water balance is developed to determine the optimal reservoir release policies and the optimal cropping pattern around Doroudzan Dam in the South-West of Iran. The proposed model was solved using a genetic algorithm (GA). Four weather conditions were identified by combining the probability levels of rainfall, evapotranspiration and inflow. Moreover, two irrigation strategies, full irrigation and deficit irrigation were modeled under each weather condition. The results indicate that for all weather conditions the total farm income and the total cropped area under deficit irrigation were larger than those under full irrigation. In addition, our results show that when the weather conditions and the availability of water changes the optimal area under corn and sugar beet decreases sharply. In contrast, the change in area cropped with wheat is small. It is concluded that the optimization approach has been successfully applied to Doroudzan Dam region. Thus, decision makers and water authorities can use it as an effective tool for such large and complex irrigation planning problems

Nonlinear viscous gravity-capillary surface waves at arbitrary wavelengths

This paper presents the second-order perturbation theory of the Navier-Stokes equations for free surface flows, with the wave amplitude considered as the perturbation parameter. Gravity-capillary surface waves in incompressible viscous fluids are subjected. The results provide a systematic derivation of a nonlinear surface wave equation that fully takes into account dispersion, while nonlinearity is included in the leading order. However, the presence of infinitely many overdamped modes has been neglected, and only the two least damped modes are considered. Finally, to describe the elevations and evolution of the surface wave, we introduce a differential equation.Comment: 11 page

Investigation of Beating a Disobedient Woman and Its Levels and Its Punitive Effects According to the Verses of the Qur'an and the Rule of Forbidding the Evil

Some thinkers take a superficial look at the original sources of the Islamic religion and causes much criticism toward the Islamic view on women's rights. According to them, there are verses and narratives that show the wrong and inhumane treatment of Islam toward women. One of the issues of criticism was toward some verses of the Holy Qur’an, such as verse 34 of Surah an-Nisāʼ, which authorized the punishment of a woman by a man. Collecting the materials in this article is library-based and their processing is descriptive and analytical. In this article, by referring to the existing verses and hadiths, we found that according to the rational and narrative reasons, the permission to beat women without relying on the above verse and relying on the reasons for the necessity of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil can be proved. Of course, beating is the last level of fulfilling the rule of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, which includes giving the permission to a man for beating a woman. And if the reasons of the permission to beat violates enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, considering the explicitness of the verse of Nushūz in the permission to beat woman by man, it can be considered as one of the exceptions and outside the scope of the ruling that says it is necessary to obtain permission of the religious ruler

A Comparison of Three Models of Hospital Performance Assessment Using IPOCC Approach

BACKGROUND: Hospital performance measurement is an essential component of providing feedback on the efficacy and effectiveness of service. The purpose of this study was to compare three models of performance assessment through the IPOCC approach.METHODS: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2018 in Sari educational hospital. The data collection instrument was BSC, EFQM and accreditation questionnaire which was filled out through census. The validity of the BSC questionnaire and EFQM was based on expert opinion, and its reliability was found to be 0.97 and 0.92 using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The accreditation questionnaire was developed using a checklist of the Ministry of Health. Using the expert panel, the components of the questionnaires were classified into dimensions of input, process, output, control, and context. Data analysis was done applying descriptive statistics and one way ANOVA.RESULTS: The highest distribution of components and acquired points through the IPOCC approach were found in the BSC in the process dimension (58.8%) and control dimension (3.62 ± 0.56), in the EFQM, in the result dimension (40.2%) and structure dimension (3.25 ± 0.44), and in the accreditation, in the process dimension (64.4%) and control dimension (3.45 ± 0.72), respectively. The results of one-way ANOVA showed that there was a significant difference between different quality models (P<0.001).CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed that in evaluating the hospital through the IPOCC approach, the distribution of components was more in the dimensions of the process. Therefore, having a robust systematic approach was considered to be effective for hospitals.

Precision of C-reactive protein in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis

Background: Appendicitis is known as inflammation in the appendix, and its treatment is merely through surgery. There is mistaken diagnosis according to clinical presentations. C-reactive protein is an annular pentameric protein found in blood plasma, whose circulating concentrations rise in response to inflammation. It is an acute-phase protein of hepatic origin. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic effect of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in patients referring to Valiasr Hospital in Qaemshahr city, Iran in 2017-2018. Methods: This study was a diagnostic study and blood samples were collected from patients with acute abdomen pain with suspected appendicitis in Qaemshahr Valiasr Hospital. Then CRP results were compared with pathological results as golden standard; then sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of this test were determined based on standardized test (pathologic result). Results: The sensitivity and specificity of CRP test in diagnosis of acute appendicitis were 71.42% and 60.58%, respectively. In addition, PPV and NPV were 88.88% and 42.85%, respectively. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, CRP can be considered as one of the predictive tests of acute appendicitis. Evaluation of CRP levels, alongside with other diagnostic approaches, can be used as an adjunctive diagnostic method in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis

Is the difference between median sensory and ulnar motor latencies better than combined sensory index in carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis?

Objectives: This study aims to compare the sensitivity and specificity of median sensory nerve/ulnar motor nerve latency difference (MSUMLD) as a new method with combined sensory index (CSI) for accurate diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. Patients and methods: The study, which was conducted between November 2013 and May 2014, included 49 patients (7 males, 42 females; median age 45.9±6.6 years; min. 19 - max. 65) and their 97 hands. Of the hands, 47 had symptoms and signs of carpal tunnel syndrome with normal routine nerve conduction studies (group 1) and 50 had carpal tunnel syndrome by standard criteria (group 2). Then, MSUMLD and CSI were performed for the two groups. Results: The median sensory-ulnar motor latency difference had sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 70%; however, CSI had a sensitivity and specificity 72% and 92%, respectively. The median sensory/ulnar motor latency difference was over the normal range in 14/47 hands (29%) with normal conventional nerve conduction study. Twenty-nine percent of these patients would be categorized as normal with standard nerve conduction studies. Conclusion: This new method (MSUMLD) does not need to stimulate more sites during conventional electrodiagnosis and is just a simple mathematical practice that may be a complementary method in diagnosis of mild carpal tunnel syndrome

Comparison of amplitude and latency of cognitive potential (P3)with high and low frequency stimuli in early and late onset blind subjects

AbstractThe aim of this study was to study P3 with high and low frequency stimulus in blind subjects to study neuroplasticity. The P3 was recorded in 70 dBnHL. Comparison of results between two groups showed that there were no statistically significant differences between amplitudes and latencies of P3 with high frequency stimuli. However, in low frequency the difference between amplitudes was significant. Neuroplasticity seemed to occur in visual cortex in both groups. The activation patterns of the occipital cortex varied between these two groups and this could be demonstrated with low frequency stimuli better than with high frequency stimuli