Mobility of Power-law and Carreau Fluids through Fibrous Media

The flow of generalized Newtonian fluids with a rate-dependent viscosity through fibrous media is studied with a focus on developing relationships for evaluating the effective fluid mobility. Three different methods have been used here: i) a numerical solution of the Cauchy momentum equation with the Carreau or power-law constitutive equations for pressure-driven flow in a fiber bed consisting of a periodic array of cylindrical fibers, ii) an analytical solution for a unit cell model representing the flow characteristics of a periodic fibrous medium, and iii) a scaling analysis of characteristic bulk parameters such as the effective shear rate, the effective viscosity, geometrical parameters of the system, and the fluid rheology. Our scaling analysis yields simple expressions for evaluating the transverse mobility functions for each model, which can be used for a wide range of medium porosity and fluid rheological parameters. While the dimensionless mobility is, in general, a function of the Carreau number and the medium porosity, our results show that for porosities less than $\varepsilon\simeq0.65$, the dimensionless mobility becomes independent of the Carreau number and the mobility function exhibits power-law characteristics as a result of high shear rates at the pore scale. We derive a suitable criterion for determining the flow regime and the transition from a constant viscosity Newtonian response to a power-law regime in terms of a new Carreau number rescaled with a dimensionless function which incorporates the medium porosity and the arrangement of fibers

Exploring the Barriers of Home Care Services in Iran: A Qualitative Study

With increasing chronic diseases, the use of home care is rising in the world. Home care in Iran has many challenges and to improve that, we should identify the challenges and barriers of home care. The aim of this study was to identify and explore the barriers of home care in Iran. This is a qualitative study with content analysis approach that was conducted in Iran in 2015. Fourteen key informants comprising health policymakers, faculty members, nurses, and physicians as well as patients and families engaged in home care purposefully participated in this study. Data was obtained using face-to-face semistructured interviews. A focus group discussion was also used to complete the findings. Graneheim and Lundman's approach was used for analysis of data and Lincoln and Guba's criteria were used to confirm the trustworthiness of study's findings. The data were divided into three main categories and eight subcategories. Main categories included treatment-based approach in the healthcare system, cultural dimensions, and the lack of adequate infrastructure. A position for home care in the healthcare system, considering cultural dimensions in Iranian society and providing an appropriate infrastructure, can be beneficial to improve the situation of home care services in Iran. © 2016 Heshmatolah Heydari et al

The Association between Religious Belief and Drug Adherence Mediated by Religious Coping in Patients with Mental Disorders

Introduction: Adherence to drug regimen is an important factor in the treatment of patients with mental disorders. In some studies, religious beliefs have been shown to be effective for treatment adherence. This study aimed to investigate the association between religious beliefs and adherence to the medication regimen mediated by religious coping in patients with mental disorders. Methods: In this cross‑sectional study, 164 patients with mental disorders were selected through convenient sampling from educational centers in Qazvin city. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, March Drug Adherence Questionnaire, Santaklara’s Religious Faithfulness questionnaire, and Pargament Religious Coping questionnaire. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The mean age of the patients was 38.87 ± 14.42 years. The mean duration of the disease was 5.71 ± 5.78 years. The mean of the religious belief score was 30.90 ± 5.96, the mean of the negative religious coping score was 2.17 ± 2.94, and the mean of positive religious coping score was 6.83 ± 4.69. There was a significant positive correlation between religious beliefs, adherence to medication regimen, and positive religious coping. There was a significant negative correlation between religious beliefs, adherence to medication regimen, and negative religious coping. Conclusion: There was a significant positive correlation between religious beliefs and adherence to medication regimen in patients with mental disorders. Religious beliefs were directly associated with positive religious coping, and adherence to medication regimen was indirectly associated with negative religious confrontation

Dynamic Analysis and Optimal Design of FLPSS for Power Network Connected Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Using of PSO

This paper studies the theory and modeling manner of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) into power network and its effect on small signal stability. The paper demonstrates the fundamental module, mathematical analysis and small signal modeling of the SOFC connected to single machine infinite bus (SMIB) system. The basic contribution of the study is to attenuate the low frequency oscillations by optimal stabilizers in the presence of SOFC. To optimize the performance of system, fuzzy logic-based power system stabilizer (FLPSS) is exploited and designed by particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique. To ensure the effectiveness of the proposed optimal stabilizers, the simulation process takes in three scenarios of operating conditions. The effectiveness of proposed PSO based FLPSS on the oscillations in the power system, including SOFC is extensively demonstrated through time-domain simulations and by comparing FLPSS with the results of other stabilizers approaches

The predictors of no-reflow phenomenon after primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction

Background: No-reflow phenomenon is a serious complication of primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), which may increase the risk of progressive myocardial damage, profound left ventricular dysfunction, and death. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the incidence of no-reflow phenomenon and its clinical, para-clinical, and angiographic determinants in patients who underwent primary PCI for ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Patients and Methods: This non-randomized prospective cohort study was conducted on 397 patients in a cardiovascular tertiary care center in Tehran, Iran from April 2012 to April 2014. The inclusion criteria of the study were presenting with acute STEMI of � 12 h duration or having admitted between 12 and 24 hours after onset with symptoms and signs of ongoing ischemia. The participants underwent standard coronary angiography. No-reflow phenomenon was defined as a Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow � 2 and no presence of spasm, distal embolization, or dissection after completion of the procedure. The association between no-reflow and its determinants was assessed by chi-square, student�s t-test, or Mann�Whitney U test. Logistic regression models were also used for multivariate analysis. P values < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Results: The participants� mean (SD) age was of 59 (12.2) years and female/male ratio was 83/314. The incidence of no-reflow phenomenon was 63 (15.9). Besides, the results of multivariate analysis showed that only thrombus burden, lesion length, time to reperfusion, and type of occlusion had an adjusted association with this phenomenon. Conclusions: The study results suggested that no-reflow phenomenon after primary PCI would be predictable. Thus, preventive measures, such as using distal protective devices or administration of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists, are advised to be used in high-risk patients. © 2016, Iranian Cardiovascular Research Journal. All rights reserved

Layer-by-layer functionalized nanotube arrays: A versatile microfluidic platform for biodetection

We demonstrate the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEM) on three-dimensional nanofiber scaffolds. High porosity (99%) aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays are photolithographically patterned into elements that act as textured scaffolds for the creation of functionally coated (nano)porous materials. Nanometer-scale bilayers of poly(allylamine hydrochloride)/poly(styrene sulfonate) (PAH/SPS) are formed conformally on the individual nanotubes by repeated deposition from aqueous solution in microfluidic channels. Computational and experimental results show that the LbL deposition is dominated by the diffusive transport of the polymeric constituents, and we use this understanding to demonstrate spatial tailoring on the patterned nanoporous elements. A proof-of-principle application, microfluidic bioparticle capture using N-hydroxysuccinimide-biotin binding for the isolation of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), is demonstrated.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Award DMR-0819762

Liver transplant recipients quality of life instrument: Development and psychometric testing

Background: Liver transplantation is a life-saving intervention for many patients with end-stage liver disease. In the past, evaluation of successful liver transplantation was based on patients' survival rate. However, in recent years this evaluation has been based on patients' quality of life. Various instruments have been developed to evaluate patients' quality of life. Nonetheless, scholars still believe that it is crucial to develop a standardized and disease specific instrument for evaluating the quality of life in liver transplant recipients. Objectives: The aim of this paper was to describe the development and psychometric testing process of a quality of life instrument specific to liver transplant recipients. Materials and Methods: Initial items of this instrument were extracted from a conventional content analysis study, and then were completed with findings of related international literature. The face validity was assessed by interviewing with four liver transplant recipients, and the content validity was evaluated by eleven experts in the field of transplantation. The construct validity was achieved by involving 250 liver transplant recipients through exploratory factor analysis method, and reliability was calculated by Cronbach's alpha. Results: Three main factors with 40 items were extracted from the exploratory factor analysis: Health Satisfaction, Concerns, and Complications. Reliability of the instrument was confirmed (alpha = 0.922). Conclusions: Given the special considerations regarding liver transplant recipients, this questionnaire is more accurate in evaluating the success of liver transplantation. © 2013, Kowsar Corp.; Licensee Kowsar Ltd

Bim and genetic algorithm optimisation for sustainable building envelope design

Decision-making (DM) at the early building design stages is essential to optimise sustainability performances. Nevertheless, the current methods of optimising building sustainability are complex as they involve multiple design variables and performance objectives. With the development of building information modelling (BIM), complicated buildings can be digitally constructed with precise geometry and accurate information for design optimisation in the early stages of project. Thus, this study explores the use of BIM and Genetic Algorithm (GA) to support DM and optimisation for sustainable building envelope design. To develop a BIM-GA optimisation method, Autodesk Revit template was created to extract data of building envelope from a Base Model (BM). Then, the data were employed to compute overall thermal transfer value (OTTV) and construction cost for BM evaluation and GA optimisation. A hypothetical building was modelled and then analysed using the proposed method as a test case. The BIM-GA optimisation method can address the difficulties of DM on building sustainability in the early design process