Human dynamic networks in opportunistic routing and epidemiology

Measuring human behavioral patterns has broad application across different sciences. An individual’s social, proximal and geographical contact patterns can have significant importance in Delay Tolerant Networking (DTN) and epidemiological modeling. Recent advances in computer science have not only provided the opportunity to record these behaviors with considerably higher temporal resolution and phenomenological accuracy, but also made it possible to record specific aspects of the behaviors which have been previously difficult to measure. This thesis presents a data collection system using tiny sensors which is capable of recording humans’ proximal contacts and their visiting pattern to a set of geographical locations. The system also collects information on participants’ health status using weekly surveys. The system is tested on a population of 36 participants and 11 high-traffic public places. The resulting dataset offers rich information on human proximal and geographic contact patterns cross-linked with their health information. In addition to the basic analysis of the dataset, the collected data is applied to two different applications. In DTNs the dataset is used to study the importance of public places as relay nodes, and described an algorithm that takes advantage of stationary nodes to improve routing performance and load balancing in the network. In epidemiological modeling, the collected dataset is combined with data on H1N1 infection spread over the same time period and designed a model on H1N1 pathogen transmission based on these data. Using the collected high-resolution contact data as the model’s contact patterns, this work represents the importance of contact density in addition to contact diversity in infection transmission rate. It also shows that the network measurements which are tied to contact duration are more representative of the relation between centrality of a person and their chance of contracting the infection

Analysis of Half-Duplex Two-Node Slotted ALOHA Network With Asynchronous Traffic

Despite the long history of research on slotted ALOHA, the exact analysis of the average delay is still in question as the performance of each node is coupled with the activity of other nodes. In this paper, we consider a network comprised of two half-duplex transmitter nodes with asynchronous arrival traffic that follow the slotted ALOHA protocol. We propose a new queueing theoretic model based on the state-dependent queues to analyze the network. In addition, we derive the exact values of delay and stability region for each node. The numerical results demonstrate the accuracy of our proposed model.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Fire safety in high rise residential building in Malaysia

With the increase in the high number of tall buildings being constructed in Malaysia, the building owners face many challenges. Not only the building owners will have to look after the maintenance of the buildings but they have also to consider the safety of the occupants, especially, in case there is a fire break out. The fire department will need the necessary equipment to ‘fight’ the fire and they need to be updated in the construction of these buildings. The aim of this study is to assess the fire safety regulation and also the factors taken into consideration in designing the fire safety requirements. The objectives of the study are to study the requirements of By-Laws 1984 (Malaysia) regarding the fire i.e. escape staircase, to identify the factors taken into consideration by building owners in term of fire regulation requirements, to assess the risk of fire in building and to evaluate the perception and behavior of occupants in case of fire outbreak. The study is focused on high-rise residential buildings with minimum of five storey’s height. The data was gathered from observing five numbers of selected high-rise residential buildings in Kuala Lumpur. The data is also collected through questionnaires. From the study, the staircase width and intermediate floor depth are designed and constructed using different dimensions. There are five basic steps to carry out a fire safety risk assessment in buildings i.e. to identify fire hazards, identify people at risk, ‘evaluate, remove, reduce and protect from risk’, ‘record, plan, inform, instruct and train’ and review. The perception and behavior of occupants in case of fire outbreak is that they will immediately evacuate the building if the fire alarm goes off. The occupants wish to evacuate the building using the staircase instead of the elevator

RESPUESTA DE DISTINTOS GENOTIPOS DE CÍTRICOS Y GÉNEROS AFINES A LA INFECCIÓN CON VIROIDES

Los especies de cítricos y géneros afines pertenecen a la familia Rutaceae. Los cítricos son huéspedes naturales de siete viroides, pero solamente Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd) y variantes específicas de Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) causan patologías (exocortis y cachexia, respectivamente) en especies sensibles. La mayoría de los cítricos son tolerantes a las infecciones viroidales salvo algunas especies que son sensibles y manifiestan síntomas. En variedades comerciales infectadas, es frecuente encontrar los viroides como infecciones múltiples. El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar la respuesta de distintos genotipos de cítricos a la infección con viroides. Se ha caracterizado un aislado de campo que contenía CEVd (clase A), HSVd (variante no patogénica), CBLVd (variante tipo CVd-Ia) y CDVd (variantes de tipos CVd-IIIa y CVd-IIIb), y se ha estudiado su efecto en el comportamiento de árboles de naranjo dulce 'Navelina' y clementino 'Nules', ambos injertados sobre citrange Carrizo y mantenidos en condiciones de campo durante 10 años. Los árboles de ambos cultivares alcanzaron un tamaño inferior y su cosecha fue menor que la de los controles no inoculados. Las características de los frutos también resultaron afectadas: (i) Los frutos de naranjos infectados presentaban un tamaño, índice de madurez y contenido en zumo superiores a los de los controles no infectados; (ii) los frutos de clementinos infectados presentaban un tamaño y relación diámetro/altura mayores que los de los controles no infectados; (iii) En ambos cultivares, la densidad, contenido en sólidos solubles y acidez del zumo eran inferiores a los de los controles no infectados. Los árboles infectados tenían un sistema radicular poco desarrollado y mediante histología se demostró que sus raicillas contenían menos amiloplastos que las de los controles no inoculados.Bani Hashemian, SM. (2009). RESPUESTA DE DISTINTOS GENOTIPOS DE CÍTRICOS Y GÉNEROS AFINES A LA INFECCIÓN CON VIROIDES [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/6283Palanci

Lentiviral Mediated Overexpression of NGF in Adipose-derived Stem Cells

Introduction: Human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are multipotent stem cells that can self-renew and differentiate into various types of cells such as adipocytes, osteocytes, and neural cells. These stem cells can be isolated by minimally invasive technique in large amounts. ADSCs are a useful resource for cell therapy and regenerative medicine. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is the first neurotrophin factor discovered and characterized for its anti-apoptotic role in neural development. NGF can promote neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth and it also promotes neuron differentiation and migration. Moreover, research showed that NGF could protect axons from inflammatory damage, improve cognitive function in damaged brain models, and function in the prevention and treatment of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. In this study we use Lentiviral vector-mediated gene transfer technique to deliver NGF gene to ADSCs and overexpress this factor in ADSCs. Method and Materials: ADSCs extracted from human adipose tissue after lipoaspiration by digestion method. ADSCs characterized with Flowcytometry and differentiation assay in adipogenic and osteogenic differential media. The NGF gene was cloned in pCDH-513B-1 (System Bioscience, Mountain View, CA, United States) under a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. Recombinant lentiviruses were produced according to the Prof. Trono lab protocol with some modifications in HEK 293T cells. The spinfection method was used to transduce ADSCs. NGF expression was assayed using fluorescent microscope to trace green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker, RT-PCR and western blotting. Results: Extracted ADSCs had mesenchymal morphology and differentiated into adipocytes and osteocytes in differentiating media. HEK293T easily transfected with pCDH-513B-1 and over 99% of them expressed GFP so we gathered pseudoviruses from the supernatant. ADSCs transduced with these pseudoviruses transferred NGF and after transduction expressed GFP, as seen under fluorescent microscope. RT-PCR and western blotting verified NGF overexpression in them

The Relation of Q Angle and Anthropometric Measures with Ankle Sprain; a Case-control study

Introduction: Since most studies on ankle sprain are medical and sports-related and not much epidemiologic and etiologic data from the general population exist in this field, the present study evaluates the relationship between Q angle and anthropometric measures with ankle sprain in the general population.Methods: In the present case-control study, all of the patients over 18 years age presenting to emergency departments (ED) of two educational Hospitals, complaining from ankle sprain, were evaluated during more than 1 year. A checklist consisting of demographic data, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and history of ankle sprain, as well as degree of Q angle was filled for all participants. The correlation of mentioned variables with incidence of ankle sprain was calculated using SPSS 22.Results: 300 patients with ankle sprain were evaluated (53.5% male). Mean age of the patients was 37.03 ± 14.20 years. Mean weight, height, and BMI were 71.71 ± 11.26 (43 – 114), 168.74 ± 8.63 (143 – 190) and 25.14 ± 3.19 (18.41 – 38.95), respectively. Mean Q angle of the patients was 12.78 ± 3.19 degrees (5 – 23). There was a significant correlation between weight (p < 0.001), BMI (p = 0.001), history of sprain (r: 0.26, p < 0.001) and Q angle (p = 0.002) with incidence of ankle sprain. In addition, there was a significant statistical correlation between weight (p = 0.031), BMI (p = 0.020) and Q angle (p = 0.004) with history of ankle sprain. In patients with a history of ankle sprain, Q angle was wider by about 2 degrees.Conclusion: It seems that the prevalence of ankle sprain directly correlates with high weight, BMI, and Q angle and is more prevalent in those with a history of sprain. Although the findings of the present study show a statistically significant correlation between these factors and ankle sprain, the correlation is not clinically significant

Drug utilization evaluation of meropenem: an important broad-spectrum antibiotic for the treatment of serious bacterial infections in hospitalized patients

Increasing trend in the development of antibiotic resistance is one the major concerns of health care systems throughout the world. Several factors are responsible of the emergence of this problem of which frequent inappropriate uses of antimicrobial agents plays an important role. Therefore, in the study we aimed to assess the appropriateness of the usage of meropenem, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, in a teaching affiliated hospital.This study is an observational prospective research on drug utilization. All patients admitted to Masih Daneshvari hospital that had received meropenem during Jun to July 2011 were enrolled in the study. To evaluate the appropriate use of meropenem, an institutional standard guideline was designed by pharmacy and therapeutic committee using evidence-based guidelines. Prescriptions were considered appropriate if they were compliant with the guideline.  The total number of meropenem vials used during this period was 2153 vials. Most prescriptions started empirically (85.9%). Of these, 16.9% of prescriptions continued according to lab results whereas 69% of meropenem courses remained empirical. Our results showed that meropenem was started appropriately in 64.8% of patients whereas just 74.3% of patients received the drug for an adequate duration.In conclusion, our study and several other surveys detected various areas of inappropriate use of broad-spectrum antiobiotics such as meropenem. With regard to the important role of these drugs in the treatment of serious nosocomial infections, a combination of both restrictive and educational measures appears to be necessary to improve rational antibiotic usage as well as to decrease in the frequency of antibiotic resistant.</p

The effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and schema therapy on happiness and mental health of nursing students

Background and aims: Cognitive behavioral therapy and schema therapy are known as two common methods to promote happiness and mental health. This research aimed to investigate the effectiveness cognitive behavioral therapy and schema therapy in improving happiness and mental health of nursing students who referred to counseling center in Islamic Azad university of Mashhad Branch. Methods: This research was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design. The statistical population included all nursing girl students who referred to counseling center in Islamic Azad university of Mashhad Branch in 2014 year. 45 girl students were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to three groups (each group 15 students) included experimental and control groups. The experimental groups educated by cognitive behavioral therapy and schema therapy in 10 sessions (each session for 70 minutes). All of groups completed the questionnaires of happiness (Argyle and Lu) and mental health (Goldberg and Hillier) as the pre-test and post-test. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and multivariate analysis and covariance methods. Results: The findings showed the happiness post-test mean of cognitive behavioral, schema therapy and control groups was (3.78±1.19), (3.67±1.12), and (1.96±0.65) respectivly. Also, the post-test mean of mental health in cognitive behavioral, schema therapy and control groups was (3.23±0.91), (3.12±0.87), and (1.68±0.70) respectivly. Moreover, there was a significant difference among experimental groups, cognitive behavioral therapy and schema therapy with control groups (P<0.005). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that both cognitive behavioral therapy and schema therapy methods can increase happiness and mental health in nursing students. So, it suggests that therapists use these methods to improve happiness and mental health in students